Sandra L. “Sandy” Denbigh, age 87 years, former longtime resident of Readington Township, NJ, died peacefully on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at Arden Court, Yardley, PA.

The Dali Lama once wrote, “A simple smile. That’s the start of opening your heart and being compassionate to others.” It was on August 1, 1933 in Williamsport, PA, where a beautiful little girl with an amazing smile was born to Charles and Helen Gross Miller. This angel, who was lovingly nicknamed ‘Sandy’, would be raised in Shamokin, PA and would later spend the majority of her life in the Flemington and Hunterdon County, NJ area.

Graduating Shamokin High School in 1951, Sandy’s natural compassion and tender heart led her to a profession where those qualities are the epitome of being successful in the field: nursing. Earning her designation as a Registered Nurse from Harrisburg Polyclinic Hospital, it was during one of her classes where a guest speaker would come and tell the class about a new hospital being built in the ‘country setting’ of New Jersey, and one who needed a new nursing staff. It was that fateful encounter which would change Sandy’s life forever.

Moving to Flemington in 1954 to work at the newly opened Hunterdon Medical Center, Sandy served many patients and their families at HMC—from medical floors to maternity—every area of the hospital was graced with her smile. She worked at HMC for several years, as well as performed private duty nursing and working as a nurse for Dr. Bambara, a well-known general practice physician in the area. Wherever she went, her knowledge and dedication to her patients and their families was always appreciated and admired by all.

Flemington back in the 1950’s was in many ways a community where everyone knew everyone. Mr. Bob Williams, proprietor of Williams Bros. market, got to know the young new nurse from HMC, and encouraged one of his part-time, weekend workers to ask her on a date. This young man, who would come home to Flemington on weekends as he was serving his country in the United States Navy, finally got the courage to ask this nurse out on a date. Sadly, Sandy stood Norm up on what was to be their first date as she decided she needed to, “wash her hair.”

Lucky for many, this was not the end of the story. Young Norm, full of tenacity, spied Sandy one night in January of 1956 at Timbers Restaurant on Route 31, and the rest as they say, is history. The two swept each other off their feet, finding a mutual love and respect that fairy tales are made from. They were engaged by that June, and married the following year on June 8, 1957 in Sandy’s home town Episcopal Church in Shamokin, PA.

Sandy would soon find herself in the role that many say she was made for: that of a mother. Fiercely devoted to her family, Sandy not only had two sons, Jeff and Randy, and a daughter, Ellen, but also all of the neighborhood kids who found a sanctuary in the Denbigh home and who lovingly thought of Sandy as a second mom.

Pushing her kids out of their comfort zone, she was always encouraging them to shoot for the stars and to follow every dream they had.  Supportive in all their endeavors, Sandy had a keen ability to be “present” for them, and for everyone she knew, in all situations. She truly enjoyed learning about a person, and took a genuine and caring interest in that person. By doing this, she felt she could help and be there for that person as she could better understand what made them tick. This amazing trait is but one way she helped her children succeed, and also why she made friends wherever she went.

Having many hobbies, including always winning at mahjong, Sandy loved to give back to her community. She volunteered for more than twenty years at the Hunterdon Medical Center and was very involved in the Flemington Woman’s Club. She and Norm loved to travel, and spent many wonderful times making memories as they traveled to Europe, Alaska and the Caribbean.

Her faith was at the core of who she was, and she promptly joined Calvary Episcopal Church upon her move to Flemington. She was involved in all aspects of church life, and her contributions to the altar guild will never be forgotten. To Sandy, being a good human being was rooted in her strong faith that demanded that one, “Love Thy Neighbor”.

Though the last several years have been difficult health wise, the love and support shown to Sandy and her family will never be forgotten as the ideal of loving thy neighbor was shown to Sandy and Norm wherever they went. The entire Denbigh family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation for the genuine love and support given to them throughout the last several years. Every call, note, and visit made a tremendous difference for the better.

“Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.” These words, written by the philosopher Thich Nhat Hanh, sum up the life and legacy of Sandy Denbigh. To honor Sandy, please just smile a bit more, as you never know who you will help by simply showing a bit of God’s love to the world.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Charleen Marad.

Surviving are her husband of sixty-three years, Norman J. Denbigh; her children and their spouses, Jeff and Barbara Denbigh, Randy and Mary Brooke Denbigh, and Ellen and Chris Egan; her grandchildren, Elizabeth, Sarah, Anna, Caroline, Daniel, Lindsay, and Tommy; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Robert and Joan Denbigh and Jack and Marie Denbigh; several nieces, nephews, and extended family; her loving family at Arden Court; and many dear friends who were always ever-present in Sandy’s heart.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 26, 2020 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ 08822, where everyone is asked to remember the words of Dr. Seuss, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

Life celebration services officiated by Rev. Nathan Ritter and Rev. David Errickson, with burial in the family plot at Cherryville Cemetery, Cherryville, NJ, will take place privately.

Kindly note that masks and social distancing are required at all funeral related events. Please follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival at the funeral home.

Please visit Sandy’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Sandy’s honor may be made to Calvary Episcopal Church, 44 Broad Street, Flemington, NJ 08822 or online by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”