Sandy was born in Santa Rosa, California to Norman and Myrtle Hudson. She attended Oakland High School and Samuel Merritt School of Nursing. She worked at Children's Hospital in Oakland,California for 15 years as a pediatric oncology nurse. She was a member of the Shamanic Society and enjoyed reading, clogging, hiking, gardening, kayaking, cross-country skiing and painting. She was the devoted mother of 6 children and loving grandmother of 12 grandchildren.