Sandra Leigh Hilliard (Raines) passed away peacefully on December 14, 2025 at Bethel Home in Hospice care.
She was born August 7, 1949 to Kenneth and Edith Raines in Melrose Park, IL.
She attended Proviso East High School in Maywood IL.
Sandi loved animals and often worked in that field at various veterinary offices, later opening up her own pet shop in Glendale Heights, IL.
Sandi had a daughter, Tamara, with Fred Nunziato, she then married Kenneth W. Backus and had a son, Kenneth W. Backus Jr., later she went on to marry David Hilliard.
Sandi was always one to help anyone in need, she always had an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on. She was an artist and avid baker, loved crafting and could throw an awesome party. She had a green thumb and a sweet tooth. There wasn’t an animal she wouldn’t rescue or rehabilitate and that was her purest passion, she had dogs, cats, birds, horses, pigs, chickens, goats and pretty much any other animal that had a need.
She is survived by her daughter, Tamara (Joseph) Nunziato-Garihan; son, Kenneth (Heidi) W. Backus Jr.; grandkids, Benjamin, Michael, Jacob, Samantha, Zack, Caitlin and Mikayla; great-grandkids, Darian, Evan, Ethan, Kenadee, Asher, CJ, Izyk, Jackson and Reed; and her brother, Warren (Leane) Raines.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Edith Raines; husbands, Kenneth Backus and David Hilliard; as well as grandparents, aunts and uncles.
A Celebration of Life will be held April 10, 2026 at Lakeshore Park pavilion in Oshkosh, WI from 4pm to 8pm, bring memories to share.
Donations may be made in her honor to ICare Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 1062 Melbourne, AR 72556 or Oshkosh Animal Shelter.
“To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die.” -Thomas Campbell