CHICAGO - The light in the world dimmed on Jan. 10, 2023, with the peaceful passing by natural causes of Sandra Rae Romans Pillar at age 58. She is predeceased by her dear parents, John and Kay. She is survived by her daughter, Allison Kay, who has lost her caregiver, companion and guide star. Her sister, Heidi (Cape Cod, MA), and brothers James Hal (Jacksonville, FL) and Scott (Fairfax Station, VA) are deeply mourning their little sister, and their spouses and significant other Bruce, Sandy and Ellen keenly feel the loss of a beloved sister-in-law. Sandra and former husband Ed and his wife Cindy were rockstar co-parents. Aunt Sandra was cherished by her nephews and niece Matthew, John, Jay, Stephen, Michael and Rebecca.

You could remember Sandra's birthdate because it was the day of the Alaskan Earthquake, March 27, 1964. She was born at Brookings (SD) Hospital, and grew up in Urbana, graduating with honors from Urbana High School in 1982. Like her siblings before her, Sandra attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, graduating with a BS in Mathematics in 1987.

Sandra had a special knack for bridging that gap between people and their technology. She devoted her entire career to developing, implementing and supporting the systems for managing Chapter 13 bankruptcy, and was a highly valued colleague to co-workers in her Chicago office as well as others across the country.

When you were with Sandra, you were usually surrounded by song and laughter. Her passion was music and almost all of her spare time was spent rehearsing and performing with her Cowboy Choir bandmates Dave, Carolyn and Andy. She sang and played the violin. They play old-timey country music and other favorites wherever they are welcome, at street fairs, private parties, barroom gigs and senior centers. She was a member of the Chicago Temple United Methodist Church where she played violin with a strings group and participated in the bell choir.

Sandra found her leadership skills when she took on the role of President of her condo association. She loved the 33rd ward progressive movement and encouraged and supported Allison's passion for social justice causes.

Sandra had dozens of friends, far too many to count. She was warm and welcoming, connecting people and creating community wherever she went. She nurtured her friendships from childhood, high school, college and young adulthood, and found room for many new friends along the way. She was both a ringleader and a mainstay. She loved Illinois sports and the Chicago White Sox, who have both lost a superfan. She leaves a huge hole that will be hard to fill at gatherings of her family and friends. Every human being is unique and special, but Sandra was more so.

A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 11 a.m. Livestream will be available. Contributions in honor of Sandra can be made to PAWS Chicago, the Old Town School of Folk Music and FUMC- Chicago Temple.