Obituary: Sandra Lee (Porter) Tyrrell, 56

WALLINGFORD, CT — Sandra Lee (Porter) Tyrrell, 56, died Friday, November 18, 2022 at MidState Medical Center. She was the beloved wife of James Tyrrell.

She was born in New Haven, June 6, 1966, a daughter of Nancy (Forand) Porter of North Haven, and the late Charles Porter. From the very start of her adult life, she dedicated her life to helping people and in most recent years combining her passion for creativity and confidence in positive mental health in her own practice as an Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor. She originally found her passion for working in the medical field and went to Huntington Institute for medical assisting but then continued her education and graduated with a masters degree from Albertus Magnus College’s Master of Arts in Art Therapy Program.

Sandra had experience with a wide variety of agencies. She created and developed programs such as Girls Night Out and Let’s Get Real! that have been supported by the Town of Cheshire Youth Services. In 2010, Sandra volunteered art therapy services for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She worked with the Music and Arts Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut teaching adjudicated and at-risk adolescents the benefits of creativity.

Sandra worked with Mercy Learning Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut assisting in bringing a positive change through life skills and literacy to low-income women. She participated in art therapy support groups for heart transplant recipients and their families.

In 2002, she established the Art Therapy Department for The Children’s Center Community Programs, Inc. and in 2004, she started her private practice in Cheshire, Connecticut.

She is a Professional Member of The American Art Therapy Association, is the former President for the Connecticut Art Therapy Association, and is a Professional Member of the Connecticut Counseling Association.

In addition to her husband and mother, Sandra is survived by her loving Daughter and son-in-law, Jillian and Cody Jandreau; her granddaughter, Sophie Lee Jandreau; her brother and sister-in-law Edward and Marci Porter.

Sandra's family will receive relatives and friends in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext., on Tuesday, Nov. 22, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held in the funeral home on Wednesday at 12 p.m. Interment will follow in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Meriden.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Wallingford Funeral Home here.