andi Kae Vargas Breitbarth, 54, departed this world with her family at her bedside in her home in Valrico, FL to join her Lord and Savior in Heaven on June 27, 2017.
Services
Sandi’s funeral service will be on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at 11am, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2913 John Moore Road, in Brandon Florida with visitation 1 hour prior to the service at 10am. Graveside services with full military honors will be at 1pm, Saturday, July 8, 2017 at Serenity Meadows Memorial Park, 6919 Providence Rd, Riverview, FL 33578 with the US Army Funeral and Honors Team and Pastor Hanus officiating.
Life
Sandi was born in Fairmont, MN on October 23, 1962 to Willard and Mary (Ewert) Breitbarth. She was the 5th of 6 beautiful girls raised on a 160-acre farm in Truman, MN. She served 6 years in the US Army where she met the love of her life, Hermes (Oz) Vargas, and were married in 1986. After her military career, she continued her education and earned her Master’s Degree in Nursing. She spent 27 years as a Registered Nurse in multiple specialty areas in Nursing earning professional certifications in each area. She was an exemplary professional who took pride in caring for her patients at FL Hospital (UCH) and most recently at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, Florida.
She was admired and respected by her colleagues not only for her vast knowledge and experience but also for her loving approach to patient care. Sandi was a captivating woman who’s smile radiated love. She cared beyond measure and would bring out the best in all who crossed her path. She had a firm Christian belief that allowed her to face cancer with grace. Her faith was evident as she continued to serve at Lamb of God Lutheran Church attending worship services each week and helping to prepare the weekly worship and kids bulletins despite her illness and constant pain. She was a devoted wife and an inspiring mother who always found the way to remain firm in her actions while demonstrating the tremendous love and admiration she had for her family. Sandi’s beauty extended beyond her physical appearance and was continually demonstrated by her infinite honesty, willingness to help and comfort others, always providing witty comments that made everyone smile…she was universally beautiful, inside and out.
Family
Sandi is preceded in death by her father, Willard Breitbarth, also a US Army Veteran, and is survived by her loving family: her husband of 31 years, Hermes (Oz) Vargas; her daughter, Ashley Vargas and her son, Nicholas Vargas of Valrico, Florida; her mother, Mary Breitbarth of Truman, Minnesota; her five sisters, Linda Egeness of Fairmont, Minnesota, Cindy Darnell of Fairmont, Minnesota, Patti Carlson of Omaha, Nebraska, Wanda Shurson of Omaha, Nebraska, and Bonnie Blair of San Marcos, California; her brothers-in-law, and numerous nieces, nephews, close friends and colleagues.
Special Acknowledgement
In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that you send donations in her memory to the Fisher House (Donate.FisherHouse.org) or to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (Cholangiocarcinoma.org)
Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
My deepest condolences to the Vargas and Breitbarth families.
It is a tough time for all of Sandy’s family and friends and I wish you all peace. With deepest sympathy.
Ron
My thoughts and prayers are with Sandi’s entire family!
Our deepest sympathies to the Vargas and Breitbarth families. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. God Bless you all. Lon and Ruth Firchau
Blessings and prayers to Sandi’s family and friends. May God bring peace to you knowing she is safe with him.
If you need anything please let me know! Thinking pleasant thoughts for you during this difficult time!
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family. We have you in our thoughts and prayers. Many blessing during this difficult time.
Sandi will be remembered as a wonderful nurse and coworker. May the hand of God reach down and comfort all her family during this time.
My thoughts and prayers are with Sandi’s family and friends.
We will always remember Sandy in our hearts. Condolences to the Vargas & Breitbarth family.
My deepest sympathies to your Family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
My most sincere condolences on these difficult times, may you all find peace.
Eternal Peace & Joy to Sandy, a beautiful & very smart nurse.
Sandi was a valued coworker and valiant individual. She is eternally missed as our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.
Praying that the Lord give you His comfort, strength, and peace in this difficult time.
It’s hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember. My deepest condolences to both the Vargas and Breitbarth families. RIH Sandi!
My condolences, hope it helps to know that God is holding Sandi in his arms and holding you in his heart. Our prayers are with all of you
Bea
My thoughts and prayers are with Sandi’s entire family. She will be misses. Will never forget How I met Sandi. God bless her
I extend my deepest sympathy to the Breitbarth and Vargas family and friends. My thoughts and prayers will continue for your families to seek God’s comfort during this very difficult time. May you find peace in all the wonderful memories.
Sandi and Hermes unconditional love and support for each other is amazing and she will be in our hearts forever.
Sandi and Hermes unconditional love and support for each other is amazing and she will be in our hearts forever.
She did have a smile that lit up the room, remembering her fondly. Our deepest sympathies on your loss.
Our sympathies to everyone! Sandy will be missed by so many! Sending our Love to all of you!
I am so sorry- although I only met Sandy three times, she was indeed a beautiful person and my life is truly blessed by our brief interactions. Kathy Michel
Sending my heartfelt sympathy to Sandi’s family!
Extending our sincerest condolences and prayers to the Vargas and Breitbarth families. May God grant you strength and peace in this difficult time. Lowell & Joyce Boesch and Family
To the Vargas family,
Please accept our deepest and most heartfelt condolences at this most difficult time. We pray the love of G-d enfolds you during your journey of grief.
May you find strength in your Memories.
Heidi and George
Gainesville
Prayer, strength, togetherness to the entire family.
So sorry for your lost death is one thing we all got to go through Sandi is free from pain that she had to endure not going to lie it hurts but through faith with god it will get easy and joy will cometh in the morning. Sandi, will always be in your hearts for the family trust in god he will carry you through this time of sorrow. This is also a big celebration for Sandi rest in peace.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Vargas family.
I am deeply saddened by the news of Sandi’s death. I wish the entire Vargas family peace and strength during this difficult time. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Janie and I are so very sorry for you loss, we send you our condolences
May my love for you ease a little of your pain, yet may the Lord’s grace give you strength and comfort beyond human understanding. love, Miss Bette
I’m so sorry for your sadness. Thinking of all of you during this really difficult time. God bless….
My heartfelt condolences to the Vargas and Brietbarth family.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers 🙏 Yol
Oz and children may God grant you peace and some comfort knowing your beloved wife and mother is longer in pain. May God carry you during this heartbreaking time and grant you peace.
Cathy Wilson
Our heartfelt condolences, and we pray for God’s peace and comfort for Sandy’s family.
To your family and all her sisters, I grew up with your mom. All the sisters were always polite, being Bonnie was a school friend of mine, we grew together through the years in Truman school. Everyone was always like family in Truman being such a small community. My heart bleeds for each and everyone of you. We lost our father to that dreadful disease , I feel everything you all are going through. This is a very hard time for all of you. Just know I hold your whole entire family in my heart in this time of your suffering. My condolences from here in Saint James minnesota. Hugs to you all
So sorry to hear this sad news. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. I haven’t seen Sandi since HS, but I can still hear her laugh. She was a beautiful person! God bless! 🙏🏻
We are deeply sorry for the passing of Sandi. Please accept our heartfelt condolences. May your strong faith bring you hope during this time of sorrow. May God’s love shelter and comfort you in the midst of pain. May your hearts be filled with her loving memories to forever cherish.
I am so sorry to hear about Sandi. I ha
I am so sorry to hear about Sandi. I have so many fond memories of her when she was growing up. She still the same lovely person. She is a cousin of ours and our kids played together. She is in a better place now and with her dad in heaven. God Bless you and remember that God will see you through this time of sorrow.
So many fond memories that will be remembered. My thoughts and prayers are with you all🙏
Sandi was a beautiful woman. My family and I were truly blessed to have known her. I am in continuous prayer that God will bring y’all peace in this difficult time.
See you again in heaven, Sandi!
Love you all!
-Mona Lisa
As Jesus welcomes Sandi into paridise, he is always with her family as he promised. We send our sincere condolences to Sandi’s family and prayers for strength and understanding.
I will miss my beautiful friend. She was such a trouper smiling through her pain, and always concerned about everyone but herself. She radiated love in her smile. Her faith was unmatched by anyone I know and my prayer is for her family and friends to reflect on that faith, and let it be an inspiration to us to take everything to the Lord in prayer. Sandi will be greatly missed and always loved by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
We will see you soon Sandi
My sincere sympathy to all of Sandi’s families , may God bless you all and may Sandi RIP!!
My deepest sympathies to the Breitbarth and Vargas families. Sandi was a friend and classmate at Truman–she will be remembered fondly with her winning spirit and smile. I pray for Christ’s everlasting peace to comfort her friends and family during this difficult time and her light to continue to shine in all our hearts with loving memories.
Your family is in our prayers and thoughts, Sandi was a dear friend. In the blink of an eye you will all be together again in heaven, that is the Lord’s promise. Love and God bless. Mike&Gayla
Hermes,
My deepest sympathy with the loss of your wife and condolence to the family, may time heal your sorrow.
So sorry for your loss. Praying for peace and God’s comfort for the family.
how saddened I was to hear this news. I have good memories of sandi in high school and working at the retirement home together. my heart goes out to all of you. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
My deepest condolences to Vargas family.
My deepest condolences to your family. Though I did not know Sandi, I have no doubts that she was a wonderful nurse, wife, and mother. Hermes, I will be praying for you and your family during this difficult time. Please know how much your VA family cares for you and your family.
My deepest condolences:
“We can live again with family and friends who have died .We hope that we-and they-have made choice that will ultimately allow us to be with each other forever in the presence of GOD.”
Una amistad no crece por la presencia de las personas sino por la magia de saber que aunque no las ves las llevas en el Corazon.
Mis respecto a la family Vargas.
Que Dios te de descanso eterno a Sandi.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Vargas and Breitbarth families. May the Lord give you His comfort and strength, in knowing that you will be together again. God bless Sandi’s wonderful memory.
My sincere and deepest sympathies to the Vargas and Breitbarth families. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. God Bless you all.
My prayers of my family and I are with all of you.
Although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow
May looking back in memory help comfort all of you tomorrow.
My condolences to Hermes and family.
I was so saddened to receive this news! Sandi will be sorely missed by all who knew her! I loved her beautiful smile and had the privilege of working with her at UCH and the VA. She never complained and was such a hard worker. Sending prayers for comfort and peace. I rejoice in her homecoming and knowing it is not good bye but see you in the morning!
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance”.
The Mental Health & Behavioral Science Services staff offers our condolences. We are sorry to hear of your loss. We are praying for you and your family. Continue to lean on the Lord.
Sandi was such a lovely person and we were so blessed to have known her. We will forever cherish our memories of worshiping with her each Sunday at our small-but-mighty Lamb of God church. Praying for peace and comfort for Oz, Ashley, Nick and the rest of Sandi’s family.
Hermes – so very sorry to hear about Sandi. My heart is so broken for you my friend. What a truly, lovely person to leave us way too soon. Sending you and your family love and the warmth of God’s grace to you and yours. Ken
Oz,
My deepest condolences for you and your family, from me and my family. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
Mike
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Hermes…🙏❤
My deepest condolences to you and your family. I am sending you love and prayers to surround you. May you find peace and comfort in the memory of your love together.
My deepest sympathy and condolence to Hermes and his family. May Sandi’s soul Rest In Peace.
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time. May wonderful memories comfort you in the passing of this special person.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I didn’t realize Sandy was ill, this must have been a shocking and difficult time for you both. Take things one day at a time and there will be light at the end of the tunnel. My condolences, thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
My deepest condolences fot the Vargas Family.
We send our deepest sympathy with love and prayers to our wonderful precious friend Sandi and family. The pleasure of working together will always be treasured and more than appreciated. May God bless and comfort you with each passing moment.
Family,
May your memories comfort you and may time heal your hearts. Sandi was an awesome lady.
My thoughts are with you and your family. You have my condolences.
To Sandy’s family, May God comfort you in your time of need. With deep sadness for your loss.
Linda
I was blessed to have met Sandi a couple of years ago. She was a beautiful person inside and out. May the Lord give the family peace and comfort knowing that she is in His arms right now.
Deepest sympathy to Sandi’s family and friends. I had the pleasure of getting to know Sandi during a VA conference in Tampa a couple of years ago. We served on a team to improve VA care and stayed in contact. I am so sorry I am just now finding out of Sandi’s demise. I was aware that she was battling cancer but I didn’t know Sandi was already in heaven. Please accept my deepest sympathy. Sandi was a wonderful colleague and I will never forget her smile and dedication to the veterans.
Sincerely,
Angela Smith, RN
VA Lake City, Florida.