Della Frances Sanford Obituary (2025)

Della Sanford (Charron), age 94, of Yakima, Washington went to Heaven, February 10, 2025. She died very peacefully in the afternoon, at home surrounded by her children who were caring for her. September 17, 1930, was the day Della was born a twin, to Leon and Alphonsine (Lenseigne) Charron on the family farm in Moxee, Washington. Della's heritage was French Canadian. Her family migrated from Canada and ultimately settled in the Moxee Valley as pioneer Hop farmers. She spoke only French as a child while learning English in parochial school. Throughout her lifetime she would shift from speaking English to French and bring a smile to so many faces with her signature: "Merci Beaucoup, Tres Bien and C'est Bon Mon Ami". She married Len Sanford and had four children, a daughter and three sons. The marriage ended in divorce and Della never remarried. She worked in the fruit industry, retiring from MC Snack when she was 72 years old. She had a lifelong stellar reputation for being a very diligent worker! She was a music lover and taught herself to play piano by ear. Della had a beautiful contralto voice and sang in church choirs. She could sing and yodel 'Love Sick Blues' by Hank Williams Sr. Another musical delight for her was attending Tom Jones concerts with the most recent one occurring when she was 88 years young. Della loved to watch tennis matches! This was kindled when her sons Ron and Ken played tennis at Davis High School. That's when the tennis bug bit her! She followed championship tennis via the Tennis Channel all hours of the day or night. Della prayed to accept Jesus as her Savior after she heard the hymn Amazing Love by Charles Wesley and attended West Valley Nazarene Church. The Psalms were her favorite scriptures in the Bible. The verse John 3:16 held a special place in her heart. Raising a 'Twinkie' and toasting Della with a glass of milk celebrated her 90th birthday! She was a devoted Twin-kie cake junkie! These sweet treats created in 1930 and packaged in tandem occurred the same year Della and her twin sister Teresa were born! Della is survived by her beloved children, Lenette Lindemann (Cal), Ron Sanford (Wendy), Ken Sanford (Kate) and Craig Sanford, her grand-loves, Ingrid Barrentine, Hans, Erik and Kurt Lindemann, Lindsay and Kelsey Sanford, Nathan and Emily Sanford, her great grand-loves; Rosie and Sadie Barrentine, Addison and Nolan Lindemann, Sully and Huck Dwight and many special nieces and nephews also survive her. Della is preceded in death by her parents, Leon and Alphonsine along with her brothers, Lional Loranger, Sebastian (Buck), Edgar, and Joe Charron and sisters, Aline Desmarais, Doris Brulotte, Annette Lamoureux, and Teresa (Menard) Charron. The family expresses heartfelt gratitude to Tracy Oliva RN with VITA IV Solutions for her loving care in making many house calls to keep Miss Della hydrated! To her physician, Dr. John Lyzanchuk and nurses, Roberta and Mary thank you for providing her with medical care. Also, to Rebecca Berghoff LPN much appreciation is given for the blessings of her compassionate homecare for Della. A memorial service to celebrate Della's life will be held at Brookside Funeral Home on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 11:00am, with lunch to follow. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Image Point Mobile Medical Services a local nonprofit that serves vulnerable women and their unborn children. The Image Point mission to save lives and protect futures was very close to Della's heart. Contributions may be made payable to this organization and sent in care of Brookside Funeral Home (PO Box 1267, Moxee, WA, 98936) who is caring for the family. Memories of Della or condolences to the family may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.