Wife. Mother. Grammy.
Three titles that defined Sandy McDonald’s life


It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sandy Gail Phyllis McDonald (née Braund), 81, on October 12th, 2025. Sandy was born on January 18th, 1944, and raised by adoptive parents, Helen and Eldon Braund, in The Beaches neighbourhood of Toronto. As a child, she found companionship in her loyal cocker spaniel who was forever by her side, connection with her dad curling at the Donalda Club, and comfort in the company of her grandmother, Essie, and lifelong friend, Isla Vaculik.

On June 5th, 1965, at the age of 21, Sandy married her high school sweetheart, Stuart McDonald. Together, they built a beautiful life and family — raising four children while founding their business, S & S McDonald Property Ltd. Travels to New York City, Paris and staycations at The Four Seasons Hotel Toronto marked cherished milestones in their six decades of love, adventure, and devotion. Their 60-year marriage stands as a testament to their partnership rooted in loyalty, laughter, and commitment.

Before dedicating herself fully to her family, Sandy worked with the Eleanor Fulcher Modeling Agency as a casting director, model, and makeup artist. Her creative spirit continued to flourish at Edwards Gardens, where she won awards for her floral designs and arrangements. Sandy later joined Value Trend, located at Bay and Richmond Streets in downtown Toronto, where she served as Executive Assistant to CEO Sydney Rosen. Her exceptional organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail quickly made her a trusted and respected presence within the office.

Sandy was a fiercely devoted stay-at-home mom who instilled values of kindness and resilience in her children: Scott, Spencer (Sheri), Stu, and Signe (Brian). As Sandy’s family grew, so did her commitments to community, school and charity organizations. Sandy volunteered countless hours on school field trips, ran the legendary popcorn and drink booth at the John Ross Robertson Fun Fair, was a steadfast member of the Lawrence Park Collegiate PTO, helped organize and facilitate Upper Canada College’s Association Day, served as President of the Havergal Community Committee (HCC) and sat as a member of the Havergal College Board of Governors. Her years of service with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, where she captained a team of canvassers, foreshadowed a cause that would later become deeply personal.

While Sandy had many roles in life, none brought her more joy than the title of “Grammy” to Grace, Adelaide, Jack and Charlie. Long walks to the park and library, birthday celebrations, baking, playing balloon ball and makeup, bathtime giggles, bedtime stories and nighttime songs are where her love will live on in their memories.

Sandy will be remembered for her feisty, firecracker spirit, her assertive wisdom, her love of holiday traditions and romantic comedies, her home-cooked meals, her beautifully handwritten cards (always in her unmistakable cursive, recognizable the moment they arrived — a signature gesture of her thoughtfulness), her loyalty to wearing flip-flops year-round, her competitiveness when watching Jeopardy that would showcase her broad-based knowledge, her infectious smile and for her boisterous laugh that could fill any room.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the compassionate staff at Toronto Western Hospital, where she gave birth to all four of her children and where she took her final breath. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sandy’s memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) — two causes close to her heart.