Sandra L. Longo

Southbury - Sandra Longo, 81, passed away on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at Connecticut Hospice. She was the beloved wife of Joseph Longo.

Mrs. Longo was born November 27, 1944, in New London, the daughter of the late Roland and Rose (Gillie) Bunce. At a young age, she was very fortunate to be placed in a loving foster home with Arthur and Esther (Anderson) Swanson, who already had two young boys, Clifford and Donald. She was welcomed into the Swanson home, and under their care, she flourished. Sandi never considered the Swansons anything but family.

Sandi made friends easily, but her life-long friends were Pat Butkus and Barbara Phelan. They were known as the three musketeers and always supported one another throughout their long friendship. As Sandi’s disease progressed, she continued to remember her friends Pat and Barb.

In her younger years, she loved twirling her baton, singing, listening to music, and bowling. It was at a bowling alley that she met her future husband of almost 60 years. She also loved playing Bingo and seemed to have the luck of the Irish, as she often came home with winnings.

Sandi held several jobs throughout her life, but nothing brought her more joy than running her own daycare out of her home. She helped so many parents with their children and treated each child like they were part of her family. When Joe and Sandi retired, they moved to Barefoot Bay, Florida, where they enjoyed the sunshine, warmer weather, and many swimming pools. Sandi always managed to find a place to play Bingo (that Irish luck was still strong). She was a member of the Red Hat Society and made many friends through the group. Singing and listening to music brought Sandi great comfort as her health declined. Joe lovingly cared for Sandi during the last 6 years of her life with tenderness and selfless devotion. They shared a bond that can never be broken.

Besides her husband of nearly 60 years, Mrs. Longo is survived by her children, Donna Kingdon (Howard) of Ponte Vedra, FL; Deborah Longo of Naugatuck; and Joseph Longo of Oakville; her grandchildren, Jordan (Kingdon) Brown, Jack Kingdon, Benjamin Murowsky, Aaron Longo, and Justin Longo; her brother, Clifford Swanson; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Donald Swanson and Ronald Bunce, and her sisters Shirley Campagna and Betty Tirozzi.

Arrangements: Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Hillside Covenant Church, 100 Hillside Ave., Naugatuck. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Watertown. There will be no calling hours. The Buckmiller Ford Mengacci Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children’s Hospital by clicking HERE or to Hillside Covenant Church 100 Hillside Ave, Naugatuck, CT 06770.