Sandra Naing

Sandra Naing, 70, of Potomac, Maryland, passed peacefully from this life on Wednesday, October 23, 2019. She was born on December 12, 1948, in Rangoon, Burma (Yangon, Myanmar), to parents, Richard Than Naing and Kitty Than (Meah) Naing. In 1963, she immigrated to Maryland with her parents and siblings, Kathy Malik and Richard Naing, for political asylum and refuge.

Sandra lived a full and blessed life. She attended Bethesda Chevy Chase High School in 1966 and graduated with a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Maryland in 1970. Her crowning as the winner of the Miss University of Maryland Beauty Pageant showcased her unique talent and beauty. Upon graduating, Sandra went to work for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a highly respected Senior Computer Systems Analyst for the rest of her 30+ year career and retired at the age of 54. In October of 1973, she married Mario Jelencovich and had two children, Michael Jelencovich and Marco Jelencovich. In April 2001, Sandra’s greatest love was born- her grandson, Gianni Leta, to son Marco and Sam Leta.

Apart from her work at the IMF, Sandra was heavily involved in helping her children run several local restaurants, including Mezza Luna, Panache, Parlay, and Bourbon. Throughout Michael and Marco’s high school and college, and with each new bar they opened, more and more grew to see her as the loving, selfless, and forgiving mother figure she was. She built a community of people from all walks of life, always put others before herself, and never turned anyone away. She fell in love with the Cowboys (and Jets), and as with everything she did in her life, she did it with a full heart.

She is survived by her loving family: children, Michael and Marco Jelencovich, grandson, Gianni Leta, siblings, Kathy Malik and Richard Naing, and father, Richard Than Naing. Sandra’s family will receive friends for a celebration of her life at Our Lady of Mercy Church (9200 Kentsdale Dr, Potomac, MD 20854) on Wednesday October 30 at 11:30AM.