Barbara (Stearns) Hensel Sandman of Worcester, died Thursday, January 31, 2008 at the UMass-Memorial Medical Center.

   She leaves her husband, Leon Sandman; a daughter, Pamela Doherty and her husband Paul Michael; a granddaughter, Jessica L. Doherty; a grandson, Peter P. Doherty, all of Worcester; four stepchildren: Richard Sandman and his wife Gail of West Brookfield, Alan Sandman and his wife Laurel of Randolph, Paul Sandman and his wife Mary of Florida, and Andrea Zimmerman and her husband Bruce of Leyden; her cat, Chloe; and her caregivers, Nancy, Liz and Cheryl. Her first husband, Philip Hensel, died in 1992.

   Barbara was born in Sudbury, daughter of the late William M. and Ethel (Wells) Stearns, and moved to Worcester in 1955. She graduated from Sudbury High School.

   She worked at Jordan Marsh in Boston and the Furniture Loft in Auburn.

   She was a member of the former Chestnut St. Congregational Church, which merged into the United Congregational Church. She was a member of the church Candlelight Circle and volunteered in the church food pantry.

   She was a member of the Worcester Women's Club and Tower Hill Botanical Gardens. She loved cruises, gardening and animals.

   There will be a private graveside service at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 2 in Worcester County Memorial Park, 217 Richards Ave., Paxton. There are no calling hours.

   In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Animal Rescue League, 139 Holden St., Worcester 01606.

   The Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester, is directing arrangements.