Sandra Hall Watanuki

Sandra Hall Watanuki, 62, died on August 6, 2005 in her Hooksett, NH home after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born January 5, 1943 in Southbridge, MA, to the late Vivian Phaneuf Hall (St. Germain) and Malcolm White Hall. Sandra lived in Hooksett for 13 years, and previously in Derry, NH and Brookline MA. She graduated from Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge, MA. Sandra had been employed by Aurora Imaging Technology, Inc. as Office Manager, and was personally dedicated to the company’s mission of improving breast cancer detection to save women’s lives. Sandra was a member of a women’s writing collective, Women Thinking, that stimulated her creativity and gave voice to her rich life experiences. As a breast cancer survivor, she also provided guidance, support and inspiration to countless relatives and strangers alike who had been diagnosed with cancer. Sandra fed her passion for music with concerts at Tanglewood, and shared that joy with friends and family. She was an avid reader, and enjoyed playing Scrabble. She loved sharing the beauty of New England seasons by hosting friends and family, and frequently entertained, celebrating life regardless of occasion. She was a loyal, loving wife to Raymond Watanuki, and a devoted mother to Aaron P. Crutchfield and Sara Crutchfield Clarke. She also dearly loved her son-in-law, Walter Clarke and daughter-in-law, Katrina. Sandra was beloved “Gramma Cuckoo” to Sebastian Clarke, Dylan Crutchfield, and Ivor Clarke. She is survived by two brothers: Robert Hall and wife, Clayre, of Norton, VT; and Bruce Hall and wife, Judy, of Bolton, CT; and two sisters: Patricia Michaeles and husband, Basil of Sturbridge, MA; and Judith Tryba and husband, Jefferey, of Fiskdale, MA. Sandra has 13 nephews and nieces. IN HER LIFE: Sandra’s life was made more complete by the extension of her family through marriage to Raymond to include mother-in-law, Dorothy Watanuki, and late father-in-law, George Watanuki; sister-in-law, Jeanne Toguri, and husband, David and their 2 children; sister-in-law, Betty Schoppa and husband, Ron and their 2 sons; and brother-in-law, Gary Watanuki, all of the Chicago, IL area. Sandra is also survived by an aunt, Shirley Lacerte, and husband Paul, and an uncle, Eugene Phaneuf, and wife, Doris, all of Manchester, NH. She also had several cousins. SERVICES: A memorial gathering will take place at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street, Manchester on Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 with a memorial service to follow in the funeral home chapel at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 360 Route 101, Unit 501, Bedford, NH 03110 in support of breast cancer research. To view an on-line memorial or for more information, go to www.phaneuf.net.