Sandra Diane Shaffer passed away on October 17, 2025 at Fairview Ridges Hospital at the age of 79. She was a resident of Medina, Minnesota.

Sandra was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on October 8,1946. She was the loving daughter of Francis John Shaffer and Virginia Gertrude Shaffer. They later moved to Detroit, Michigan where she attended school and graduated from Cooley High School, Class of 1965.

Ms. Shaffer earned an Associata’s Degree at Century College. She also, earned a certificate in Contract Management from George Washington University. She worked as a Homemaker, a Pharmacy Technician at Target in North St Paul, MN (parttime) and finished her career working for 3M Sourcing and Engineering; working in Contract Management. She was very successful in her negotiating and had a very good eye for editing her contracts. She received many compliments on her attention to detail many times throughout her years at 3M. She really enjoyed her career and the people she worked with, even though it was stressful at times, she knew she was great at what she did!

Sandra was a member of the Tri-Lakes Association in Lake Elmo, MN, North Presbyterian Church in North St Paul, MN, Toastmasters of Woodwinds (Woodbury, MN) and attended Church at Woodbury Lutheran Church, until she moved to Springfield, MO. In Missouri, Sandra was a member of the Hillbilly Garden Club, where she held the position of President for several years.

Sandra had a passion for gardening. You could tell by whomever visited her, or drove past her house; she always had beautiful, elaborate and colorful gardens! In Minnesota, her favorite gardens were Perennial Gardens. Her favorite being Stella D’ Oro Daylilies, red and purple bee balm being her second favorite flowers. She also loved Shasta Daisies, and the annual flowers, Snapdragons and Geraniums.

When she moved to Springfield, Missouri, she had even more elaborate gardens; because the weather was perfect for what she wanted. Her favorite flowers in Missouri were Amaryllis, Dahlias, Dogwoods, Canus’ and Cone Flowers. Sandra had raised gardens with veggies and herbs, a Bird “Sanctuary,” with bird houses and feeders. Her gardens went all the way around the house and took over the entire backyard. She did not have much to mow, just a lot of weeding to do! She would not have wanted it any other way, she loved getting her hands dirty! More of her passions included, traveling, the roads trips she took the family on were always unforgettable. They included music, snacks and a good horseback ride for hours in the back country. Some of her favorite places to travel to were North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Texas. She loved going for walks with her 3 different dogs over the years, Trooper, Dallas and her latest Abby with whom she had living with her in Missouri. She loved playing board games with her Grandchildren, putting puzzles together with anyone that would help her, and playing Hand and Foot (Canasta). Quilting was another beautiful passion she had, she loved the creativity and free spiritedness you could build within the fabrics, designs and meanings of the quilts. She loved to crochet as well, she crocheted some fun hooded scarves, and blankets. She also loved to watch NASCAR and talk cars with her friends. Sandra had a passion for people, socializing, teaching, and getting to know people at a deeper level, she showed that passion through Volunteering. She taught English as a Second Language (ESL) in St Paul, MN, volunteered her time with her daughter Andrea and her grandchildren with Feed My Starving Children. (FMSC) She donated a lot to Habitat for Humanity, and United Way. She loved to paint and make crafts of all sorts, but most of all she loved spending time with her family and friends, and chatting on the phone with her sisters and other people far away.

Sandra is proceeded in death by her father Francis John Shaffer and mother Virginia Gertrude Shaffer.

Sandra is survived by her daughters; Andrea L. Nazarian (Jamey) of Eau Claire, Wi, 4 Grandchildren, Jennifer McCrank, Jessica Nazarian, Joshua and Jacob Head; Stacey A. Nazarian (Jer) Lakeville, MN, 2 Granddaughters Kyrsten, and Kaitlyn Olmstead, 2 Great Grandchildren Kai and Winnie, Carolynn G Stegmeir (Andy) of Monticello, MN and 3 Grandchildren Hunter, McKenzie and Kody; her sisters C.G. Shaffer and Suzanne Shaffer of Madison, AL and her longtime companion of over 20 years, Kent Luebke.

A Private Celebration of Life will be held in Sandra’s honor for close friends and family on Sunday, July 26, 2026 12:00-3:00pm please enjoy the gardens until 4:30pm. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318 The family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, to place a brick in her memory.

To make a gift online, here is a link to our website to do that:

Make a Gift Online

If you would like to mail a check, here is the address where to send it to: Tributes, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum PO Box 860647 Minneapolis, MN 55486-0647

On Memo Line please write: Sandra Shaffer Memorial Brick