Michael J. Sands, 48, of Waldoboro, died tragically in an auto accident on Jan. 6.
Michael lived life fully and loved his family deeply. Michael was educated in Dracut public schools and was a graduate of Dracut High School. He began his career at MA/Com in Burlington where he was a stock and shipping manager. He met his wife Cindy there. In 1996, Mike, Cindy, and their son Michael relocated to a long held family property in Woodstock, Vt. When Michael wasn’t performing in his position as General Manager of F.H. Gillingham’s, he could be found remodeling his lovely old house – once the two-room schoolhouse for the Woodstock area – or fostering his love of nature wandering the hills surrounding his home.
Mike and Cindy recently relocated to their family farm in Maine to follow their dreams of living on the ocean, farming, and opening a general store. He helped found Almost Edible Soaps, a family run company that hand crafts soap and body products. In his spare time, he worked on rebuilding the family home and barns, walking the woods and fields with his favorite dog Sheba, watching the family herd of Dwarf Nigerian Goats frolic, and smiling as the horses raced up and down the farm pastures. Mike cherished time spent outdoors and loved hunting.
He is survived by his wife, Cindy Straghan Sands; son, Michael Daigle Jr. and wife Brandy Pelkey of Sharron, Vt.; mother, Danielle Keans Sands of Haverhill, Mass.; father, Paul Sands and wife MaryJo of Hamstead, N.H.; sisters, Nicole Constabile and fiance David Pereira of Haverhill, Mass., and Stefanie Gagne and fiance Bryan Sparks of Nashua, N.H.; many nieces and nephews; loving in-laws; and a host of life-long friends.
Michael was a dedicated husband and best friend to Cindy, loving father, caring son, best brother, favorite uncle, and great friend; he will be greatly missed.
A celebration of Michael’s life will be held from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sat., Jan. 14 at Lenzi’s, 810 Merrimack Ave., Dracut, Mass.