Obituary for Sandra Ann Snow (Witmer)
Sandra Snow of Barrington, NH 10/19/1944-2/8/2024
Sandra Snow passed away suddenly in her home on Thursday morning, February, 8th 2024 at the age of 79. Her family is greatly mourning her unexpected passing, but is taking solace in the fact that she was at home, near the lake and flower gardens that she loved so much.
Sandra has lived her entire life in the area. As a young woman, she worked in her mother’s candy store, and then at Calef’s Country Store, where she is still fondly remembered by the staff. From a young age, she adored horses and was an avid horsewoman for most of her life. In 1965 she married Mark Bradbury, with whom she had two children, her daughter Rae and her son Darren. After her marriage, Sandra’s artistic talent became the forefront of her work, and she began creating a lifetime’s worth of paintings, sculptures, jewelry, creatures, hats, and any number of miscellaneous pieces that she randomly made whenever inspiration struck. She left a staggering legacy of her memorable artwork, much of which has found homes with people all over the country. She was a fixture at horse shows, craft fairs, and renaissance festivals, where she would sell her wares. She is particularly well remembered at the Deerfield Fair, where she vended for many years. There she marketed one of her signature creations, the much-loved sculptures whimsically known as Pudgy Ponies, which she began making in 1976. Over the course of her career, she individually sculpted and painted thousands of these adorable statues, many of them personalized to resemble their owners’ actual horses. At the beginning of every fair, her regular customers would make her merchant tent their first stop. They would scoop up the tiny painted ponies by the armload, then move to a less bustling corner to begin the agonizing process of choosing which one, or two, or six ponies would be going home to their collection. Each and every pony was unique and special, like their creator.
For nearly three decades, she has resided with her partner, Phill Maze. They made a home on the lake where Sandra happily tended her gardens, kayaked, fed the ducks, and filled the house with more and more evidence of her endless desire to create. They made regular trips to Arizona and Texas every winter, regions that Sandra loved as though she had been born there.
Anyone who knew Sandra cherished her beautiful smile, her serene demeanor, and her unconditionally loving personality. She was incapable of cruelty, and almost impossible to anger. Considering the sarcastic nature of her offspring, this was an impressive feat indeed. Her personality could be described as beautiful and sunny, like the sunflowers that she became so fond of in her later years.
She leaves behind her daughter and son-in-law Rae and Craig Enslin, her son and daughter-in-law Darren and Erin Bradbury, her grandson Marcus Bradbury, her sister and brother-in-law Jane and George Payette, and her partner Phill Maze. Her family is missing her terribly after her passing.
Friends and family may call from a 4-5 pm on Monday, February 26, 2024 at Purdy Memorial Chapel at 2 Concord Road (Rt.4) in Lee, NH 03861. Words from the family will follow at 5 pm.
An outdoor memorial will also be held this fall, details to be determined.
Sandra Snow passed away suddenly in her home on Thursday morning, February, 8th 2024 at the age of 79. Her family is greatly mourning her unexpected passing, but is taking solace in the fact that she was at home, near the lake and flower gardens that she loved so much.
Sandra has lived her entire life in the area. As a young woman, she worked in her mother’s candy store, and then at Calef’s Country Store, where she is still fondly remembered by the staff. From a young age, she adored horses and was an avid horsewoman for most of her life. In 1965 she married Mark Bradbury, with whom she had two children, her daughter Rae and her son Darren. After her marriage, Sandra’s artistic talent became the forefront of her work, and she began creating a lifetime’s worth of paintings, sculptures, jewelry, creatures, hats, and any number of miscellaneous pieces that she randomly made whenever inspiration struck. She left a staggering legacy of her memorable artwork, much of which has found homes with people all over the country. She was a fixture at horse shows, craft fairs, and renaissance festivals, where she would sell her wares. She is particularly well remembered at the Deerfield Fair, where she vended for many years. There she marketed one of her signature creations, the much-loved sculptures whimsically known as Pudgy Ponies, which she began making in 1976. Over the course of her career, she individually sculpted and painted thousands of these adorable statues, many of them personalized to resemble their owners’ actual horses. At the beginning of every fair, her regular customers would make her merchant tent their first stop. They would scoop up the tiny painted ponies by the armload, then move to a less bustling corner to begin the agonizing process of choosing which one, or two, or six ponies would be going home to their collection. Each and every pony was unique and special, like their creator.
For nearly three decades, she has resided with her partner, Phill Maze. They made a home on the lake where Sandra happily tended her gardens, kayaked, fed the ducks, and filled the house with more and more evidence of her endless desire to create. They made regular trips to Arizona and Texas every winter, regions that Sandra loved as though she had been born there.
Anyone who knew Sandra cherished her beautiful smile, her serene demeanor, and her unconditionally loving personality. She was incapable of cruelty, and almost impossible to anger. Considering the sarcastic nature of her offspring, this was an impressive feat indeed. Her personality could be described as beautiful and sunny, like the sunflowers that she became so fond of in her later years.
She leaves behind her daughter and son-in-law Rae and Craig Enslin, her son and daughter-in-law Darren and Erin Bradbury, her grandson Marcus Bradbury, her sister and brother-in-law Jane and George Payette, and her partner Phill Maze. Her family is missing her terribly after her passing.
Friends and family may call from a 4-5 pm on Monday, February 26, 2024 at Purdy Memorial Chapel at 2 Concord Road (Rt.4) in Lee, NH 03861. Words from the family will follow at 5 pm.
An outdoor memorial will also be held this fall, details to be determined.