Sandra K. Burnett

Sandra Kay Burnett (Sandy), 70, of Plainfield, passed away September 19, 2021.  She was born, 25 June 1951, to Bob and Naomi (Shumaker) Burnett.  After graduating High School (Cascade H.S.) in 1969 she started her employment years at Putnam County Hospital.  She subsequently worked for the Indiana State Fire Marshal for 8 years.  From there she worked at Carrier Corporation for an amazing 43 faithful years becoming the go-to person in many areas.   She also earned an Associate’s Degree from Marian University while juggling full-time employment and a diverse myriad of responsibilities.

Faith:  She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and devotedly served him to her death and beyond. 

Faithful Servant:  She was a confident Bible teacher serving as a Sunday School teacher for various age groups, young and old, she was especially devoted to her blue-haired ladies’ group for several decades.  She regularly led many Bible studies, to include the Indianapolis International Airport Chapel, ministering to employees, wayward travelers, and any and all seekers of Christ.  She led by example, serving in so many avenues of life.  She touched the lives of people by volunteering in Hospice Care, Memory Impairment, Service Dogs, Eskenazi Hospital, The Gathering, Love of Labs. 

Faithful Daughter:  She accepted the role of caretaker for her parents.  Humbly ministering to them for decades.  She and her father were caretakers for her mother once her mother was stricken with Alzheimer’s Disease.  They laboriously kept her out of a facility for several years until her father passed away.  Working full-time and taking care of her mother was valiant but impossible to maintain.  She visited/critiqued every memory care and nursing home facility in a 50-mile radius.  She became the expert go-to person for anyone that was facing the same dilemma.  She visited her mother one to seven days a week until her mother’s death eleven years later.

Faithful Sister:  She ministered to her only sibling, Bob, and her sister-in-law, Christy (Reinking) Burnett on a regular basis, her self-sacrifice removed much of the guilt and stress of them not being available to “share the load.”  The miles and obligations of serving in the US Air Force for 25 years was an obstacle and a blessing as Sandra visited the several places around the world where they were stationed.  

Faithful Aunt/Grandparent/Parent.  Sandra was loved and adored by her niece and nephew.  She served as aunt, grandparent, best friend, wise advisor, and confidante to her beloved nephew, Matt, and niece, Melanie.  Their bond was inseparable as she was every bit as influential in their lives as a parent could be.   She traveled with them to Asia, Europe, the Middle East and numerous locations within the USA.  Hardly a week went by when they were not in close contact.  Their latest adventure to the Holy Land will be a lasting and cherished memory.  She was always there for them. 

Faithful Friend:  Sandra was blessed to have so many wonderful, loyal, and faithful friends as they were blessed to know her.   They shared so many things to include motorcycle riding, trips to interesting places, restaurants, and general laughter and fellowship.

The hyphen between her birth year and death year on her grave marker is so full of cherished memories, impeccable service, patience, dedication to others, faithfulness, acts of kindness, self-sacrifice, goodness, gentleness, self-control and most of all, love.   Her passing leaves a tremendous void in so many people’s lives.  However, we do not despair as she is absent from the body but present with Christ.  We have been blessed to have known her.  Well done good and faithful servant.

Sandra is preceded in death by her mother, Naomi Shumaker Burnett, and father, Robert A. Burnett, along with her beloved Golden Retriever, Bristol.  She is survived by her brother Bob (Robert R. Burnett), her sister-in-law Christy (Reinking) Burnett, her nephew, Matt Burnett, her niece, Melanie Burnett, and her canine adopted daughter, Mollie.  Along with hundreds of sisters and brothers in Christ.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 pm on Monday, October 4, 2021 in the Hampton-Gentry Funeral Home, Plainfield, where friends may call on Monday from 11 am until service time at 1:00 pm.  Entombment will follow in Maple Hill Cemetery, Plainfield.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you donate to one of the following charities:

Tunnel to Towers Foundation   (https://dogood.t2t.org/give/320847/#!/donation/checkout)

Operation Homefront

(https://secure.operationhomefront.org/site/Donation2?df_id=4914&mfc_pref=T&4914.donation=form1)