Sandra Elizabeth LaPlante (nee Burpee) passed away from pancreatic cancer on September 5, 2026, just short of her 75th birthday. Born in Weston, Ontario, she is predeceased by her parents Thomas and Elizabeth Burpee (nee Pipher). Sandi is survived by husband Brian LaPlante, sister Susie Snyder (Jamie), and Aunt Zilla Voytek (nee Pipher). She also leaves cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was dating a friend of Brian’s when she met him in 1976 and they found their personalities clicked. This year marks 50 years of being together; they married in 1981. Brian provided steadfast support throughout her illness.

From an early age Sandi was captivated by horses - her mom said she could ‘whinny before walking’, noting that Sandi would gallop around the house pretending to be a horse. As she grew up, she rode at her grandfather’s farm in Dunedin, Ontario and at Woodbine race track where she groomed and exercised horses for several years. When she and Brian moved out to British Columbia, she was able to have her own horses to ride and care for. 

She was also fascinated by birds, being first enthralled by a nest of baby birds found at the cottage when she was young. She was drawn to the colourful plumage of parrots, and over the years she adopted several of them. Her most beloved bird was a chartreuse coloured Alexandrian parrot with a large crimson beak.  Merlin, as he was called, was only 2 months old when he ran up her arm and hid under her hair at the breeder’s home. It was love at first sight for both! Merlin, at his current 35 years of age, has now outlived Sandi, and will miss her greatly, as all of us will.

Sandi inherited her mother’s love and skill in preparing delicious meals. In her last months, rather than a bucket list of things ‘to do’, she chose a bucket list of ‘best dishes’ she wanted to prepare and share with Brian one last time. These dishes included Osso Bucco, Ukrainian soup (Kapusta), Lobster Bisque, Crab Fettuccini, and Duck l’Orange. Sadly, she lost the appetite and energy to complete the last two on the list.

Sandi bore her illness with patience and dignity, remaining in her Maple Ridge home till the last.