Sandra (Sandi) Riley of Orange California, passed away very suddenly on October 26, 2024 after her generous, loving heart stopped beating. She was surrounded by her three adoring daughters and her devoted husband. Sandi was only 73 years of age.

Sandra was born on January 26, 1951 to Jack and MaryAnn Harris of Orange, California. After attending St. John’s Lutheran School and Orange High School, she met and married the love of her life, Nathan Riley, an earnest and devout Lutheran young man who heard God’s call to ministry. Sandi did, too!

The two set forth in faith to Concordia Theological Seminary and then into fulltime church ministry and before long, the young couple were blessed with daughter after daughter after daughter: Shannon ‘75, Brittany ’76, and Erin ‘77. A St. John’s parishioner advised the pair they might want to “put a board between them” to curb their fruitfulness! 

Sandi approached all of life’s endeavors with cheerful enthusiasm and good-natured fastidiousness. On Sunday mornings when Pastor Nate would be out of the house early to preach, one could find three little girls standing patiently in line in the bathroom in their patent leather shoes waiting their turn for Mom to braid their hair and curl their bangs. While the Riley ladies might not strictly have been on time for church, they certainly looked adorable and worshipped devotedly!

Sandi worked for a time at Lutheran Border Concerns Ministries in San Diego, California and then at La Veta Pharmacy in Orange California. She finished up her career as a Client Service Associate with the brokerage firm Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All the while, Sandi volunteered for various church ministries at their home church for many years, Hephatha Lutheran Church in Anaheim Hills, California.

Sandi demonstrated her great love for her friends and family in her enormous generosity. When her kids were teens, the door was always open to anyone who needed a little extra bit of mother’s love. She was often the first to volunteer to throw a bridal or baby shower. She carefully selected a special gift for her long list of friends for every imaginable occasion. 

In her later years, Sandi basked in the loving attention of her adoring grandchildren: Garret and Anika Morgensen, Penelope and William Burian, and Kayla, Fiona, and Roxy Khorram. She filled their lives with her unconditional love, playful swim days of togetherness, magical holiday memories and an unwavering example of a faithful life of love and service to God and to everyone who crossed her path. 

Sandi is survived by her husband Nathan, her daughters Shannon (Mike), Brittany (Wes) and Erin (Takin), her seven grandchildren, her loving sister Rosie, her many nieces and nephews and countless friends.

“Today you will be with me in Paradise.” John 23:43

Those wishing to make a memorial gift may donate to EDIBS daily Bible Studies PO Box 931 Brunswick GA 31521. https://edibs.life/donate