PORTLAND – Sandra J. Drago, 79, of Bolton Street, Portland, died peacefully Monday, March 27, 2023 after a brief illness.

Sandra was born in Dover, N.H., the daughter of Joseph A. and Jeannette Blanchette Drago and raised in Bernice. She was educated in local schools and graduated from Berwick High School in 1961. After graduation, she joined the Sisters of Mercy in Portland and earned her diploma from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1969.

After leaving the convent, Sandra was a Community Health Nurse in Portland for many years and served the communities of Kennedy Park and Munjoy Hill in their homes.

Throughout her life, Sandra had many interests and hobbies. She was an avid practitioner of yoga and traveled to Mexico on retreat. She also enjoyed trips to Ireland and Paris.

Sandra found joy in nature. In addition to combing the Maine coast for sea glass, she shared a mutual love with animals and cats in particular. Gifted with a green thumb, Sandra could make a flower garden bloom in a parking lot and beautified every place she lived.

She read widely and shared and discussed literature with many. Sandra was an enormously giving and unselfish person. A talented baker, she enjoyed sharing her home made treats with those she loved.

She is survived by her sisters and brother, Irene Gauthier of Rochester, N.H., and her husband George, Paul Drago of Rochester, N.H. and his wife Ann, and Deborah Griffin of Dover, N.H.; and many nieces and nephews. With such a huge impact on many people, she will also be dearly missed and remembered by Michael Hubner of Freeport, Margaret “Peg” Hubner of Rochester, N.H., her goddaughter, Suzanne Hubner, of Brussels, Belgium, and Johanna Pulkinen of Portland and their families.

A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. at Cavalry Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland on Friday, March 31. To view Sandra’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit http://www.ConroyTullyWalker.com

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated by the

Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital,

22 Bramhall St.,

Portland, ME 04102