"To the Aderca family, my sincerest condolences. I have just been made awhere of Sandra's passing today. She was a coworker and good friend for many years at the Montreal Neurological Institute. Even all these years later, we still contacted each other on our birthdays. A beautiful person, she will be missed by many. Rest in peace my friend. "
In loving memory of
Ileana "Sandra" Alexandra Aderca
January 4, 1954 - November 28, 2017
Ileana Alexandra "Sandra" Aderca passed away on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 in Rochester, Minnesota after a courageous battle with cancer.
Sandra was born January 4, 1954 in Pietrosita, Romania the daughter of Nicolae and Maria Botnariuc. She was married to Ion Christoph "Hans" Aderca who preceded her in death. Sandra earned her Masters Degree in Biology in Bucharest, Romania. She worked as a research scientist in Romania and Israel, at McGill University in Canada, and for the last 16 years at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester in the Department of Molecular Medicine. She took great pride in her work desiring to advance quality research.
Sandra was a life-long learner and had an outgoing, independent spirit. She loved the opera, literature, photography, horticulture, horseback riding and her menagerie of animals.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, December 10, 2017 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes' Chapel. A Visitation Reception will follow the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Camp Companion at www.campcompanion.org or Rochester Public Library.
To share a special memory or condolence, please visit: www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.
Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901 (507) 289-3600
Tributes
"Sandra, you were a very special person. Strong, unwavering, resolute with a deep passion for animals and books. You were instrumental in introducing European writers to my reading list. I will remember for many things, but most importantly I will remember you for your courage, your strength of character and the many conversations we had on all things from culture to animals to food. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself with us. You will always be a treasured memory."
"Dragos, Jeana, Sorin Neculce Am cunoscut familia Botnariuc cu multi ani in urma in Romania. Sanda era atunci o mica adolescenta. Viata ne-a facut sa traim impreuna diverse evenimente atat in Romania cat si in Canada, profesorul devenise prietenul nostru, Hans Aderca prietenul si "mica noastra enciclopedie", iar Sanda, sora noastra mai tanara, plina de viata si veselie. De oriunde era, Sanda ne tinea la curent, in Canada, cu toate. Cand s-a imbolnavit, ramasa singura in casa in Rochester, ne informa de cum evolueaza situatia si, totusi, continua sa viseze la vechiul proiect inca de pe cand profesorul era in viata, sa vina cu totii la noi, in Costa Rica. Sufeream cu totii boala ei, dar totusi speram in vre-o ameliorare. Vestea mortii ei a cazut ca un trasnet si nu ne-am revenit nici acum. Parca nu ne vine sa credem. Ne va ramane vesnic in amintire. Sa se odihneasca in pace! We met the Botnariuc family many years ago in Romania. The Professor became our friend, Hans friend and "our little encyclopedia" and Sandra, our young sister. Gradually we're all lost them. We knew about Sandra's disease and her hard fight, but the news of her death fell like a trace and we still do not come back. May she rest in peace! "
"To the families of Mrs. Alexandra Aderca, please my sincere condolences for your great loss of Sandra to our common enemy death. As you reminisce on fond memories, may you also derive some comfort from the words of the holy writings at 1 Corinthians 15: 25, 26"
"I don't know where to start but I write this tribute with so much sadness knowing that you are gone. Sandra I miss you from the bottom of my heart. As an international student with no family, you gave me so much comfort and zeal to pursue my dream while I worked with you at Mayo Clinic. I was just a college sophomore when I met you but you believed so much in me that words cannot fully express the strength you instilled in me. Your encouragement and advise not only gave me strength but also gave me so much to hold on to as I struggled through the challenges of surviving college and medical school. You were so selfless that you advised me without informing me of your own struggles. I received this news while I was covering the Surgical Intensive Care Unit but I choose to celebrate you. You are such a wonderful individual and your light will continue to shine in my heart and the patients I will care for tonight. I am very sad that you have left us but you remain a treasure to me. You have taught me so much about becoming a good physician and scientist and I know you will continue to be with us in spirit. I miss you. I love you. I will never forget you. You are a rare germ. Your legacy will continue to live on. God bless you and may your soul rest in perfect peace. Sincerely, Vwaire Orhurhu, MD, MPH, Anesthesiology Resident Physician Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Harvard Medical School"
"Am fost de nedespartit in facultate Cele mai bune prietene: ea, Anto, Cusu (Mihaela), Rodica si cu mine. Eram nedespartite la cursuri, in practica, la distractii. Cusu a plecat la cutremurul din 1977, restul ne-a risipit viata in 4 zari. Din pacate, aflu ca si Sanda ne-a parasit. Condoleante familiei si prietenilor. Adio, prietena draga! Dorina Arhip"
"Sandra was a wonderful, kind, thoughtful soul. She was very well-rounded, ready to teach me technical aspects of QRT-PCR on one minute and then discuss Epicurian philosophy on the next. She graced this earth with her presence and will be sorely missed. "