Sandra MacMillan (Galbo)

Sandra “Sandy” Jean MacMillan (Galbo)

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace".

Sandy MacMillan, born on September 2, 1955, in Rochester, New York, passed away peacefully on March 28, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the age of 70.

Sandy was diagnosed with glioblastoma in early July 2025, only six months after the loss of her husband, Borden. The timing was especially cruel to those left to pick up the pieces, but they take comfort in knowing they’re back where they belong - together. Sandy and Borden had been “Sandy-and-Bordie” since their wedding day 44 years ago. It was almost impossible to imagine them apart.

Sandy left behind her daughters, Kellye and Jamie, who will be okay (eventually) because their Mom and Dad made sure they would be strong enough to handle this together. As well, Sandy had two beloved grandchildren, Cameron and Quinn, who will also be okay (eventually) because they inherited Teeta’s warmth and Puppa’s ability to land the right joke at the right time.

Sandy loved studying languages when she was young, but she went to X-ray school after high school because sometimes life (and Gram) strongly encourages you to make the more practical choice. She retired in 2018 after 45 years as an X-ray tech and mammographer at various locations in Rochester, most recently at the former Unity Health System. Following her retirement, Sandy and Bordie followed the sun (and Jamie) to Cornelius, North Carolina.

Sandy never forgot that early disappointment and spent her retirement learning and enjoying whatever she wanted, which included watercolour painting, volunteering for local elections and voter registration initiatives, visiting her grandchildren and buying them too many new clothes, and playing Pickleball, where she found not only a sport she loved but a community of dear friends.

Sandy was predeceased by Borden; her parents, Joseph and Dorothy Galbo (Galardi); her sister, Florence Mangione (Galbo); her brother, David Galbo; her brother-in-law, Armand MacMillan; her nephew, Joseph Galbo; and “the aunts”. They’re going to be surprised but delighted, and we hope she’ll tell them we said “Hi”.

She is survived by her daughters, Kellye MacMillan-Wills (Iain Wills) and Jamie Taddonio (MacMillan); grandchildren, Cameron and Quinn Wills; brother-in-law, Joseph Mangione; sister-in-law, Helen MacMillan; “the cousins”; and her many nieces and nephews, whom she adored.

Kellye and Jamie have been surrounded by love on all sides, but need to give a special thanks to those who stepped in to help them navigate this while hundreds of miles and one international border apart: The Skinner family, Nicole Mangione, Amber Mangione, Joey Mangione, Charlene Mangione, Anne Galbo, Joanne Malchoff, Donna Catalfamo, Mary Whalen, the HC Beauty family, Dr. Haggstrom & team, the caregivers at Peak Resources Charlotte, and Brad Smith & the team at Amada Home Care.

Family and friends are invited to attend Visitation hours to be held on Friday, April 10th, 2026 from 4:00-7:00 PM at Farrell-Ryan Funeral Home and Cremation Services. A Mass to celebrate Sandy’s life will be held on April 11th, 2026, at 10:00 AM, at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Greece, New York, with a memorial service and interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Sandy’s memory may be made to the Glioblastoma Foundation or to a local Humane Society.