Sondra = my best friend. Written by anonymous friend.
Sondra Faye Rebalkin was born in 1940, and was raised primarily in Manteca, California. Her father was a salesman, and her mother kept the family home. Her older sister, Sharon Adams predeceased her. She also has a half-brother, Ronald Miller.
Sondra was married to Franklin "Frank" Davis. Together they had two sons, Christopher Davis and Evan Davis. She and Frank were divorced in the late 1970's. Sondra appreciated Frank very much and knew he was a "very good man".
I met Sondra in 1978 at Mt. Hood Community College. Sondra attended college for a new start after the divorce. She and I were both mature students. We met in the Graphics program, which she quit in favor of Archaeology. She didn't like the "fake-ness" of advertising, but she liked the "real-ness" of dirt. She said she loved playing in dirt as a child and never lost her affinity for it.
Ultimately, just to make ends meet, Sondra got a job as a 9-1-1 dispatcher in Portland. She would have preferred a job where she participated in archeological digs to look for artifacts, but instead she responded to calls from distressed people and sent them help. It was meant to be a temporary job, but she stayed for 18 years. It was a very challenging job. She told me that a dispatcher had to listen to the caller in one ear, listen to the police in the other ear, and be able to type and talk too...all simultaneously. Believe me, she told me some great 9-1-1 stories that I shouldn't have known. She had an irreverent humor. I guess laughing was the best way she had of processing dark things. Sondra's nickname at work was "Sondar, (intentional mis-spelling) Mistress of the Universe".
All through my years of knowing Sondra (and beyond) she was my wonderful best friend. She was the sort of friend who if you did not talk to her for a long time it didn't matter. She would cheerfully take up right where you left off. In all my time as her friend (37 years) she never judged me or got mad at me---not once. I could write a book about all her many sides.
Sondra had some wonderful boyfriends after the divorce. One that she probably wouldn't mind my mentioning was Chris Cook. She loved him very much, and when Sondra loved you it was a special deal.
What mattered most to Sondra, however, was her family. I never met anyone who loved their family like Sondra did. They were everything to her. I am certain she continues to beam pure love to them from her perfect place in Heaven. Oh sure, she could get peeved with her family---usually if they were doing something she thought she knew how to do better---she just wanted to help them! She would light up like a thousand-watt bulb whenever she spoke about any of them. Her life was all about them.
Sondra is survived by her sons Chris and Evan, grandchildren Spencer, Ashley, Andrew, Lydia, Sarah and (Jason)?, and great grandsons Max and (_____) Name to come.
No memorial page for Sondra would be complete without a few words about Sondra's Russian Heritage and her Babushka "Baba"(her grandmother). Sondra and her sister tried very hard to replicate some of the incredible things Babushka cooked. The family borscht, pickles and blinchiki were typical. The Rebalkins are Doukhobors and similar in philosophy to Quakers. She loved that her ancestors were so deep and interesting. Historically, the Doukhobors (in Russia) would tear their clothes off and throw themselves under the carriages of Royalty in protest. Sondra (though she never did this carriage thing) was passionate like this and she had this same intrinsic burning desire to right wrongs.
When Sondra died, I lost my best friend. I talked to her the night before she died, and she sounded so good. She laughed her melodic laugh and said she would talk to me later. In my heart of hearts, I know that Sondra is cool with this whole circle-of-life thing....and that she'll talk to me later.
Sondra would like everyone to know:
Her son Christopher is the smartest man she ever knew...and she loved talking with him especially about world and political issues.
Her son Evan is the most talented man she ever knew, and she was in complete awe of his abilities and humor.
Grandson Spencer is the apple of her eye. He is a genius in every department.
Grandson Andrew is a wonderful chef and can do anything he sets his mind to! Another genius!
Granddaughter Ashley is a wonderful student and an athlete of the first rank. Another genius!
Granddaughter Lydia is a goddess who is so beautiful she can charm the birds out of the trees. Oh, and yes, she is a genius!
Granddaughter Sarah is already so smart, Sondra thinks she could be president someday. Seriously, she meant that.
Great-grandson Max is so happy and talkative, a true joy in her life. Certainly, a genius!
Sondra Faye Rebalkin was born in 1940, and was raised primarily in Manteca, California. Her father was a salesman, and her mother kept the family home. Her older sister, Sharon Adams predeceased her. She also has a half-brother, Ronald Miller.
Sondra was married to Franklin "Frank" Davis. Together they had two sons, Christopher Davis and Evan Davis. She and Frank were divorced in the late 1970's. Sondra appreciated Frank very much and knew he was a "very good man".
I met Sondra in 1978 at Mt. Hood Community College. Sondra attended college for a new start after the divorce. She and I were both mature students. We met in the Graphics program, which she quit in favor of Archaeology. She didn't like the "fake-ness" of advertising, but she liked the "real-ness" of dirt. She said she loved playing in dirt as a child and never lost her affinity for it.
Ultimately, just to make ends meet, Sondra got a job as a 9-1-1 dispatcher in Portland. She would have preferred a job where she participated in archeological digs to look for artifacts, but instead she responded to calls from distressed people and sent them help. It was meant to be a temporary job, but she stayed for 18 years. It was a very challenging job. She told me that a dispatcher had to listen to the caller in one ear, listen to the police in the other ear, and be able to type and talk too...all simultaneously. Believe me, she told me some great 9-1-1 stories that I shouldn't have known. She had an irreverent humor. I guess laughing was the best way she had of processing dark things. Sondra's nickname at work was "Sondar, (intentional mis-spelling) Mistress of the Universe".
All through my years of knowing Sondra (and beyond) she was my wonderful best friend. She was the sort of friend who if you did not talk to her for a long time it didn't matter. She would cheerfully take up right where you left off. In all my time as her friend (37 years) she never judged me or got mad at me---not once. I could write a book about all her many sides.
Sondra had some wonderful boyfriends after the divorce. One that she probably wouldn't mind my mentioning was Chris Cook. She loved him very much, and when Sondra loved you it was a special deal.
What mattered most to Sondra, however, was her family. I never met anyone who loved their family like Sondra did. They were everything to her. I am certain she continues to beam pure love to them from her perfect place in Heaven. Oh sure, she could get peeved with her family---usually if they were doing something she thought she knew how to do better---she just wanted to help them! She would light up like a thousand-watt bulb whenever she spoke about any of them. Her life was all about them.
Sondra is survived by her sons Chris and Evan, grandchildren Spencer, Ashley, Andrew, Lydia, Sarah and (Jason)?, and great grandsons Max and (_____) Name to come.
No memorial page for Sondra would be complete without a few words about Sondra's Russian Heritage and her Babushka "Baba"(her grandmother). Sondra and her sister tried very hard to replicate some of the incredible things Babushka cooked. The family borscht, pickles and blinchiki were typical. The Rebalkins are Doukhobors and similar in philosophy to Quakers. She loved that her ancestors were so deep and interesting. Historically, the Doukhobors (in Russia) would tear their clothes off and throw themselves under the carriages of Royalty in protest. Sondra (though she never did this carriage thing) was passionate like this and she had this same intrinsic burning desire to right wrongs.
When Sondra died, I lost my best friend. I talked to her the night before she died, and she sounded so good. She laughed her melodic laugh and said she would talk to me later. In my heart of hearts, I know that Sondra is cool with this whole circle-of-life thing....and that she'll talk to me later.
Sondra would like everyone to know:
Her son Christopher is the smartest man she ever knew...and she loved talking with him especially about world and political issues.
Her son Evan is the most talented man she ever knew, and she was in complete awe of his abilities and humor.
Grandson Spencer is the apple of her eye. He is a genius in every department.
Grandson Andrew is a wonderful chef and can do anything he sets his mind to! Another genius!
Granddaughter Ashley is a wonderful student and an athlete of the first rank. Another genius!
Granddaughter Lydia is a goddess who is so beautiful she can charm the birds out of the trees. Oh, and yes, she is a genius!
Granddaughter Sarah is already so smart, Sondra thinks she could be president someday. Seriously, she meant that.
Great-grandson Max is so happy and talkative, a true joy in her life. Certainly, a genius!
Sondra = my best friend. Written by anonymous friend.
Sondra Faye Rebalkin was born in 1940, and was raised primarily in Manteca, California. Her father was a salesman, and her mother kept the family home. Her older sister, Sharon Adams predeceased her. She also has a half-brother, Ronald Miller.
Sondra was married to Franklin "Frank" Davis. Together they had two sons, Christopher Davis and Evan Davis. She and Frank were divorced in the late 1970's. Sondra appreciated Frank very much and knew he was a "very good man".
I met Sondra in 1978 at Mt. Hood Community College. Sondra attended college for a new start after the divorce. She and I were both mature students. We met in the Graphics program, which she quit in favor of Archaeology. She didn't like the "fake-ness" of advertising, but she liked the "real-ness" of dirt. She said she loved playing in dirt as a child and never lost her affinity for it.
Ultimately, just to make ends meet, Sondra got a job as a 9-1-1 dispatcher in Portland. She would have preferred a job where she participated in archeological digs to look for artifacts, but instead she responded to calls from distressed people and sent them help. It was meant to be a temporary job, but she stayed for 18 years. It was a very challenging job. She told me that a dispatcher had to listen to the caller in one ear, listen to the police in the other ear, and be able to type and talk too...all simultaneously. Believe me, she told me some great 9-1-1 stories that I shouldn't have known. She had an irreverent humor. I guess laughing was the best way she had of processing dark things. Sondra's nickname at work was "Sondar, (intentional mis-spelling) Mistress of the Universe".
All through my years of knowing Sondra (and beyond) she was my wonderful best friend. She was the sort of friend who if you did not talk to her for a long time it didn't matter. She would cheerfully take up right where you left off. In all my time as her friend (37 years) she never judged me or got mad at me---not once. I could write a book about all her many sides.
Sondra had some wonderful boyfriends after the divorce. One that she probably wouldn't mind my mentioning was Chris Cook. She loved him very much, and when Sondra loved you it was a special deal.
What mattered most to Sondra, however, was her family. I never met anyone who loved their family like Sondra did. They were everything to her. I am certain she continues to beam pure love to them from her perfect place in Heaven. Oh sure, she could get peeved with her family---usually if they were doing something she thought she knew how to do better---she just wanted to help them! She would light up like a thousand-watt bulb whenever she spoke about any of them. Her life was all about them.
Sondra is survived by her sons Chris and Evan, grandchildren Spencer, Ashley, Andrew, Lydia, Sarah and (Jason)?, and great grandsons Max and (_____) Name to come.
No memorial page for Sondra would be complete without a few words about Sondra's Russian Heritage and her Babushka "Baba"(her grandmother). Sondra and her sister tried very hard to replicate some of the incredible things Babushka cooked. The family borscht, pickles and blinchiki were typical. The Rebalkins are Doukhobors and similar in philosophy to Quakers. She loved that her ancestors were so deep and interesting. Historically, the Doukhobors (in Russia) would tear their clothes off and throw themselves under the carriages of Royalty in protest. Sondra (though she never did this carriage thing) was passionate like this and she had this same intrinsic burning desire to right wrongs.
When Sondra died, I lost my best friend. I talked to her the night before she died, and she sounded so good. She laughed her melodic laugh and said she would talk to me later. In my heart of hearts, I know that Sondra is cool with this whole circle-of-life thing....and that she'll talk to me later.
Sondra would like everyone to know:
Her son Christopher is the smartest man she ever knew...and she loved talking with him especially about world and political issues.
Her son Evan is the most talented man she ever knew, and she was in complete awe of his abilities and humor.
Grandson Spencer is the apple of her eye. He is a genius in every department.
Grandson Andrew is a wonderful chef and can do anything he sets his mind to! Another genius!
Granddaughter Ashley is a wonderful student and an athlete of the first rank. Another genius!
Granddaughter Lydia is a goddess who is so beautiful she can charm the birds out of the trees. Oh, and yes, she is a genius!
Granddaughter Sarah is already so smart, Sondra thinks she could be president someday. Seriously, she meant that.
Great-grandson Max is so happy and talkative, a true joy in her life. Certainly, a genius!
Sondra Faye Rebalkin was born in 1940, and was raised primarily in Manteca, California. Her father was a salesman, and her mother kept the family home. Her older sister, Sharon Adams predeceased her. She also has a half-brother, Ronald Miller.
Sondra was married to Franklin "Frank" Davis. Together they had two sons, Christopher Davis and Evan Davis. She and Frank were divorced in the late 1970's. Sondra appreciated Frank very much and knew he was a "very good man".
I met Sondra in 1978 at Mt. Hood Community College. Sondra attended college for a new start after the divorce. She and I were both mature students. We met in the Graphics program, which she quit in favor of Archaeology. She didn't like the "fake-ness" of advertising, but she liked the "real-ness" of dirt. She said she loved playing in dirt as a child and never lost her affinity for it.
Ultimately, just to make ends meet, Sondra got a job as a 9-1-1 dispatcher in Portland. She would have preferred a job where she participated in archeological digs to look for artifacts, but instead she responded to calls from distressed people and sent them help. It was meant to be a temporary job, but she stayed for 18 years. It was a very challenging job. She told me that a dispatcher had to listen to the caller in one ear, listen to the police in the other ear, and be able to type and talk too...all simultaneously. Believe me, she told me some great 9-1-1 stories that I shouldn't have known. She had an irreverent humor. I guess laughing was the best way she had of processing dark things. Sondra's nickname at work was "Sondar, (intentional mis-spelling) Mistress of the Universe".
All through my years of knowing Sondra (and beyond) she was my wonderful best friend. She was the sort of friend who if you did not talk to her for a long time it didn't matter. She would cheerfully take up right where you left off. In all my time as her friend (37 years) she never judged me or got mad at me---not once. I could write a book about all her many sides.
Sondra had some wonderful boyfriends after the divorce. One that she probably wouldn't mind my mentioning was Chris Cook. She loved him very much, and when Sondra loved you it was a special deal.
What mattered most to Sondra, however, was her family. I never met anyone who loved their family like Sondra did. They were everything to her. I am certain she continues to beam pure love to them from her perfect place in Heaven. Oh sure, she could get peeved with her family---usually if they were doing something she thought she knew how to do better---she just wanted to help them! She would light up like a thousand-watt bulb whenever she spoke about any of them. Her life was all about them.
Sondra is survived by her sons Chris and Evan, grandchildren Spencer, Ashley, Andrew, Lydia, Sarah and (Jason)?, and great grandsons Max and (_____) Name to come.
No memorial page for Sondra would be complete without a few words about Sondra's Russian Heritage and her Babushka "Baba"(her grandmother). Sondra and her sister tried very hard to replicate some of the incredible things Babushka cooked. The family borscht, pickles and blinchiki were typical. The Rebalkins are Doukhobors and similar in philosophy to Quakers. She loved that her ancestors were so deep and interesting. Historically, the Doukhobors (in Russia) would tear their clothes off and throw themselves under the carriages of Royalty in protest. Sondra (though she never did this carriage thing) was passionate like this and she had this same intrinsic burning desire to right wrongs.
When Sondra died, I lost my best friend. I talked to her the night before she died, and she sounded so good. She laughed her melodic laugh and said she would talk to me later. In my heart of hearts, I know that Sondra is cool with this whole circle-of-life thing....and that she'll talk to me later.
Sondra would like everyone to know:
Her son Christopher is the smartest man she ever knew...and she loved talking with him especially about world and political issues.
Her son Evan is the most talented man she ever knew, and she was in complete awe of his abilities and humor.
Grandson Spencer is the apple of her eye. He is a genius in every department.
Grandson Andrew is a wonderful chef and can do anything he sets his mind to! Another genius!
Granddaughter Ashley is a wonderful student and an athlete of the first rank. Another genius!
Granddaughter Lydia is a goddess who is so beautiful she can charm the birds out of the trees. Oh, and yes, she is a genius!
Granddaughter Sarah is already so smart, Sondra thinks she could be president someday. Seriously, she meant that.
Great-grandson Max is so happy and talkative, a true joy in her life. Certainly, a genius!
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