Sandra Jean Mular, 82, formerly of San Jose, CA., died on Aug. 29, 2024, after a long illness. Sandy was born in Libertyville, IL, and grew up in nearby Mundelein, IL, with her sister, Linda. She attended Santa Maria Del Popolo Elementary School and graduated from Holy Child High School in Waukegan in 1958. She took child development classes at the College of Lake County and shared fond memories of working with infants at St. Therese Hospital in Waukegan. Sandy married John Michael Mule’ on Nov. 24, 1962, and the couple had three children in successive years. They settled in Libertyville and divorced in 1979. From there, Sandy moved to Cupertino, CA., remarried, and spent several happy years before her second divorce. She returned to the Midwest in 2010, after the death of her youngest child, Lynn Marie Schmidt. Sandy lived at Vintage on the Ponds retirement community in Delavan, WI., until spring of 2024, when she moved to the Holton Manor skilled nursing facility in Elkhorn, WI. Sandy was very sociable, had a mischievous sense of humor and enjoyed the companionship of others, reading, playing Scrabble and Bingo, and mealtimes. Especially mealtimes. She was a devoted Catholic and read her prayer book regularly. Sandy struggled throughout her life with bipolar disorder and anxiety. This was especially challenging during the years when mental illness was not discussed and treatment options were limited. As the stigma of mental illness has begun to lift, it is her family’s hope that more people will receive the treatment they need and deserve.
Sandy is survived by her daughter, Lisa Rose Robinson (Steve); brother, Mark Richard Mule; her sister, Linda Sanfilippo; grandchildren, Alex Black, Jesse Black, Nick Schmidt and Lucas Schmidt; and many nieces and nephews.
A service will be held at 11 a.m. Sept.14, 2024, at Ascension Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum, 1920 W. Buckley Rd., Libertyville, IL. 60048.
In lieu of flowers, please send a memorial to your local NAMI affiliate.
To leave an online condolence, please fill out your message in the box below. You will then be taken to another screen which you can leave your name and email (No website URL needed). Simply comment as a guest and your condolence will be posted.
