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SANDRA CAROLE SWYSTUN
Born: Apr 13, 1957
Date of Passing: Nov 01, 2025
Offer Condolences or Memory Make a donation to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation
SANDRA CAROLE SWYSTUN
Sandra Swystun passed away peacefully in her sleep at Riverview Health Centre in Winnipeg in the early morning of November 1, 2025 after a years long battle with cancer.
Sandra was born in Winnipeg on April 13, 1957 and was predeceased by her parents, Maureen and Nestor. Left to cherish her memory are her sister Pamela and brothers, Robert and Jeffrey, as well as countless friends and extended family members.
Sandra always excelled academically. She made the Dean's List in Commerce at University of Manitoba and at Osgoode Hall in Toronto where she earned her law degree. Prior to those accomplishments, Sandra completed grade 13 at Neuchâtel Junior College, a private international school located in the French-speaking town of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Living with a Swiss family introduced her to European culture and helped her to become bilingual. This experience sparked a wanderlust she followed thereafter.
Sandra articled in Winnipeg and went on to take positions with the federal government in Ottawa and later joined a notable firm in Toronto. She returned to Winnipeg and worked at the Manitoba Department of Justice and soon after, two national agriculture corporations. A stickler for details, her knowledge of law and negotiation made her an invaluable asset. When she eventually retired, she worked a term at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and taught ESL to Spanish speaking newcomers.
Sandra was an ever loyal friend. She kept in touch with girlfriends from kindergarten to those she met during her career. She was the master spirit of her book club and delighted in hosting dinner parties or a back deck barbeque. With her traveling companions, Sandra visited several places in Europe, the US, Latin America and Canada. She especially adored France and Spain, visiting many times.
Sandra was an avid patron of museum and art gallery gift shops when traveling and she loved to send 'wish you were here' cards during her travels from places like MOMA or The Louvre.
Sandra was active in sports right up to her university years especially in gymnastics, and was a keen follower of the sport ever after.
Sandra was generous and thoughtful, a mentor to many and did much volunteer work over the years. To those she cared for, she was a great source of support and will be dearly missed.
During Sandra's treatment, she assisted CancerCare Manitoba as a patient-partner, successfully working to help the organization receive vital research grants.
Sandra requested no formal service. You are welcome to make a charitable donation to CancerCare Manitoba, the Canadian Museum of Human Rights or the Winnipeg Humane Society in honour of her memory.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 04, 2026
Condolences & Memories (5 entries)
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To the Swystun family, I send my condolence’s with many fond memories. - Posted by: Heather Scott (Family friend) on: Apr 06, 2026
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Sandra was my childhood beach neighbour. I really idolized her as I was growing up. In my eyes she was so sophisticated, smart, with a wicked sense of humour. Two of the things which stand out most about those long beach days were the super scary urban legends she would tell. They would leave me with nightmares. The other really fond memory I have is of her doing body painting on the legs of many of us. Her artwork was like her printing and writing, perfect and precise. She would do the most incredible body drawings outside on a summer afternoon. Although those events were many decades ago they are still so vivid. Those memories like Sandra will always be with me. RIP Sandra - Posted by: Tara Kobewka (Friend) on: Apr 05, 2026
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Sandra and I met in grade school and later carpooled together when we attended university. You were fortunate to be in a marketing group project with Sandra bc she edited our work and designed cover pages that compelled every prof to award an A(+). We did everything together albeit sometimes separately - she was on the U of M gymnastics team and I was on the tennis court. We hosted parties that were such a hit, we’d have to turn on the vacuum cleaner to cue our guests that it was time to leave. We attended the Victoria Beach summer dances one weekend followed by the Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club dance the next. The most memorable trip was when we went to France for two weeks. We both got mugged at separate times both of which involved the local gendarme who threatened to arrest us. The next week, we learned through some very distinguished diners at a very upscale restaurant during the Cannes Film Festival that the cheese course was only skipped by the bourgeois, even if it threatened missing the last train home. Rest in peace my S ophisticated A ttractive N oble D edicated R egimented (and only she could make that beautiful) A A++ and in her words per-fe-C-t I miss you. M - Posted by: Marla Klassen (Sister/friend) on: Apr 04, 2026
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My earliest memory of Sandra was in Mrs. Randolph's Kindergarten class at Tuxedo Park. Sandra had just put the finishing touches on a stunning purple and yellow crayon picture of a circus wagon. Perfect in every way and solidly coloured within the lines, then underscored in black. This inspired me to outline all my crayon drawings in black well into my elementary years. Sandra was like that. Inspiring throughout her life in so many ways, whether in her career, travels, reading, or breadth of friends. We shall miss her. - Posted by: Sally Sweatman (Friend from Kindergarten onward) on: Apr 04, 2026
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Always enjoyed visits to the Swytun cottage for fresh baked m+m cookies - Posted by: Dan sudermann (Freind) on: Apr 04, 2026