Cunning, Sandra K

Cunning

Sandra “Sandy” Kay Cunning
September 25, 1942 – July 26, 2022
On July 26th, 2022, after fighting an illness Sandy Cunning who was being treated at St. Louis University
Hospital, where she had worked as a respiratory therapist before retiring, received her wings and went to fly
with the angels. She was 79 years old.
Born September 25,1942, in Memphis, TN to Ronald and Mary “Mayme” (McCain) Whitehead, she was the
youngest of five. Her father worked in many greenhouses as a florist, so her childhood was lived in several
states Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, and Indiana finally settling in Mt. Carmel, Illinois.
She attended MCHS and played flute in the high school band. She enjoyed playing it again later in life. During
her 1st marriage to Ronald (Ron) Peach in 1961, her three children were born in Mt. Carmel, twins Lynn & Glen
in 1962 & Rhonda followed shortly in 1963.
Sandy enjoyed being a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority and playing bridge. Always an avid reader, she
graduated with honors at Vincennes University with her degree in respiratory therapy. She later became a
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). After graduating, she moved to California, beginning her career at
Desert Hospital in Palm Springs and the UCLA Medical Center.
She returned to Mt Carmel to be nearer to her family, going on to work at Wabash General Hospital, Gibson
General Hospital in Princeton, IN, and Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, IL.
Always favoring city life, she moved to St. Louis in 1989 and found her favorite work home at Saint Louis
University Hospital. Sandy will always be remembered by all who knew her as a caring and spunky person.
Sandy married her long-time love Walter Cunning in 2002. They shared a love for learning, religion & fun.
He preceded her in death in 2013. Her daughter Lynn Lockhart passed away in January of this year.
Sandy was a devout Catholic, she was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in St. Louis. She also
studied and worshiped with the Carmelite Order, studied Saint Terese, and became a Benedictine Oblate of
Saint Meinard in Indiana. In 1998 she made a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land & Rome with a group headed by the
Archbishop Rigali of St. Louis. They toured the Holy Land and had an audience with the Pope in Rome.
Sandy is survived by her son Glen with wife Adrienne who live in Roseville, California. Her daughter Rhonda
with husband James Lehleitner who lovingly cared for Sandy until her passing live in St. Louis. Her
stepchildren Renee and Brian Cunning are in St. Louis. A devoted Grandmother and Great Grandmother she is
also survived by her grandchildren, Josh Keepes, Andrea Russell, Lauren Berberich and Nick Lockhart of Mt.
Carmel, IL and James, Michael and Sara Peach of Roseville, CA. along with great grandchildren Lyla, Jack and
Grady of Mt. Carmel, Il.
Services: Thursday August 4, Kutis Funeral Home 2906 Gravois Ave, St. Louis 63118
Visitation 12pm, service 1pm, Internment Resurrection Cemetery