Andrea Hitchcock

The Perfect Child ... so reads the headstone where Andrea Hitchcock will be laid to rest beside her loving and devoted parents, Ralph and Deon Hitchcock. As it was written, so it was, Andrea indeed is a perfect spirit.

That perfect spirit departed her ravaged body on April Fool’s Day, demonstrating her perfect sense of timing. She certainly fooled the doctors who sent her home as a baby to be loved, but advised her parents that she would not spend long in this mortal world. That “not long” time ended just three weeks short of her 62nd birthday.

Andrea was born April 23, 1957, a blessing to her family and all those who cared for her. She had the most extraordinarily beautiful, silver hair. She met everyone with such a deep, insightful gaze that she seemed at once to engage you and immediately discern the true nature of your heart. She had resided at the West Jordan Care Center since December of 1985. Many of her friends, roommates and care givers joined her sisters at her bedside to say good bye as she gently slipped away.

Andrea was diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosis, a life-long sentence that would leave her non-verbal, non-ambulatory, and solely reliant on other sounds, methods and gestures to portray her emotions. And she did, often. She could captivate you or she could stop you cold. She was a master of the wry smile and the gentle smirk, the effusive smile and the inconsolable cry. She had the ability to move us spiritually and emotionally, without ever being mobile herself.

We are blessed to have had her in our family. We will never know a more perfect person or a sweeter spirit. We are so full of joy to envision our beautiful sister’s reunion with our parents. The tears will flow as we imagine her for the first time being able to express herself and embrace her mom and dad.

Survived by: Ronald (Sandie) Hitchcock, Denise (Jeff) Alexander, Craig (Merry) Hitchcock, Cynthia (Jeff) Carter, and Rachelle (Mike) Miner.

We wish to express our undying gratitude to the compassionate and dedicated people at The West Jordan Care Center. Their love and caring for Andrea for 33 years was palpable, and greatly appreciated.

Andrea will be laid to rest on Thursday, April 4, at 11:00 am in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery.