Raymond D. Sanderson

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Raymond Daniel Earle Sanderson on September 21, 2026. Ray was born and raised on a farm in Cardigan, Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), Canada. From a young age he learned the value of hard work, and nobody worked harder than Ray. He was always on the move and never wasted a moment of his life.

Ray was not the loudest or the biggest person in the room, but his quiet presence was huge. He was clever, quick-witted, and had a sharp mind. He wasn’t one to show his affection through words, but through acts of service and kindness. You could always count on Ray for help when you needed it, and he never expected anything in return. He had a special affection for kids and dogs and that’s where one saw his softer side.

Throughout the years he took up many different hobbies like beekeeping, gardening, fishing, boating, winemaking, pickling, golfing, bowling, and in his later years, baking. He especially loved listening to Celtic fiddle music and going to dances at the Canadian-American club with his wife, Theresa, and to ceilidhs during summers in P.E.I.

While he immigrated to the United States at the age of 20, P.E.I was “home.” He was a carpenter by trade and built his family a cottage in his hometown overlooking the Cardigan River. In his retirement years he could not wait to get “home” for the summer and enjoyed entertaining family and friends. He loved being on and around the water and his presence in Cardigan will be deeply missed. Ray was also a proud veteran of the United States Army and served during the Vietnam era from 1965-1967.

He was the son of the late Daniel and Blanche Sanderson (Burke). Ray is survived by his beloved wife, Theresa Sanderson (MacDonald), his loving son Michael Sanderson, and his adoring daughter Charlene Sanderson. He is also survived by his siblings Muriel Bungay, Dionna MacDonald, Brent (Sylvia) Sanderson, Rhonda MacLeod, Garnet Sanderson, Blaine Sanderson, Lionel Sanderson, and sister-in-law Sheila Sanderson.

Ray was the beloved uncle and great-uncle to numerous nieces and nephews, far too many to name individually. He loved to encourage the younger generation to keep striving and was so pleased to hear about their successes.

Ray was predeceased by brothers Emmett Sanderson, Dale Sanderson; sisters Barbara (Forest) O’Brien, Waneta (Alex) MacDonald, Joan (Arthur) MacDonald, Merle MacDonald, sisters in infancy Vonda, Cynthia Sanderson; brother-in-law John MacLeod.

Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Monday September 28 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 173 Albion St., Wakefield on Tuesday September 29 at 11:30 a.m. Interment, Forest Glade Cemetery, Wakefield.

A special thank you to Ray’s Primary Care Physician, Dr. Salil Midha, who provided excellent and compassionate care to Ray for over forty years. An additional thank you to the staff at Melrose Wakefield Hospital who took such great care of Ray during his extensive hospital stays.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ray’s name can be sent to:

Cardigan Area Heritage Association

Box 172 

Cardigan, P.E.I.

C0A1G0

Canada

Or

All Saints Catholic Parish Church

PO Box 75

Georgetown, P.E.I.

C0A1L0

Canada