Sandra “Sandy” Lee (Luna) Tolentino, age 74, of Dumont, loving wife to Rafael and devoted mother and Nana to five children and six grandchildren passed away after a long battle with ALS on January 16, 2022. Born in Rockford, Illinois, she spent her childhood there with her parents, three sisters and her brother. After high school, Sandra enlisted in the Marines where she met her future husband, Rafael. They started their family in New York City before eventually settling down in Dumont, New Jersey in 1976.
Sandy was a proud member of the United States Marines Corps where she patriotically served from August, 1965 to October, 1966. She devoted her life to her family but was also an extremely hard worker who worked multiple jobs in various industries throughout her life. This was in addition to being a babysitter as well as her work in the PTO and numerous committees involved with her children’s schooling. Sandy was a loving mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, Catholic and Marine. She was very proud of her Mexican heritage. To know Sandy is to know her smile, her laugh, and her warm heart. Her biggest passion was her love of dancing. Whether it was on the dance floor at a wedding or in the elevator of a hotel, if there was music playing, Sandy would dance while enjoying a margarita straight up with no salt. You could always find Sandy watching her classic movies and television shows, although she would always welcome your help in answering the many questions of all of the game shows she loved. You were blessed if she called you friend as you could count on her for anything. Sandy had many amazing qualities we will all remember but it is her unselfish nature, her pure heart, and beautiful smile that will endure with us forever.
Sandra was predeceased by her mother, Rebecca Luna, her father, Armando Luna, and her husband, Rafael Tolentino (2020). She is survived by her daughter Lorenza “Lori” Marie Bernklow and her husband Gary, her son Rafael “Ray” Augusto Tolentino Jr., her son Miguel Jose Tolentino and his wife Jennifer, her son Tomas Alejandro Tolentino, and her daughter Rachael Lee Deloreto and her husband Michael. Sandra loved being Nana to her six beautiful grandchildren; Abigail Lee Bernklow, Connor Ray Bernklow, Kieran Cassidy Tolentino, Maximilian Jose Tolentino, Brynlee Reagan Deloreto and Ellis Hudson Deloreto, and will be deeply missed by her sisters Rebecca “Becky,” Anita, Maria “Dolly,” and brother Armando.
Due to the current restrictions regarding the pandemic, the family will have a private service with a public memorial service to be held this spring. Arrangements Frech-McKnight F.H., Dumont.