Sandra J. Koontz Shessler 1940-2024
COLUMBIANA — Sandra J. Koontz Shessler 83, entered into the Lord’s rest, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at her residence, with family by her side.
Sandra was born in Leetonia, June 12, 1940, to the late Russell Jack and Esther B. Call Koontz.
She was a 1958 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School and then graduated from the Hannah E. Mullens School of Nursing. She worked as a nurse and was employed at Youngstown Osteopathic Hospital for many years, then at East Liverpool Hospital, where she was on the peer review board and the utilization review board. She attended Youngstown State University, where she broadened her knowledge of the nursing profession. She also worked at the Pleasantview Nursing Home, and in later years, did home health care. Sandra was a nurse for more than 50 years and retired in 2015.
Sandra’s greatest joy in life was in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a loving and involved daughter, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Sandra belonged to “The Club Girls,” a card club that began in high school and continues today, having evolved to “The Co-ed Club” to now include Fred and Ted.
Sandra leaves her beloved daughters, Lisa Jo (Howard) Lanney of Columbiana and Teri Lynne (Chuck) Takach of Leetonia. She also leaves her three grandchildren, Courtney (Marcus) Amendola of Canfield, Erin (Nick) Clemmer of Columbiana and Ian Tyler of Canfield; great-grandchildren, Jaymin Tyler, Annah Bell, Leah Renee, Alexander James, and a fifth great-granddaughter, Brooklyn Rose, who is on the way and expected in June 2024. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of her life. She also leaves her sisters, Trudie (John) Schuster of Berlin Center, Donnabell (Tony) Ferrell of Austintown; and brother, Russell Jack (Sheila) Koontz of Austintown; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel, with Pastor Len Derico officiating. Calling hours will be held prior to the service, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Burial will take place within Green Haven Memorial Gardens.
It is Sandra’s wish that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; or the Elkhorn Valley Christian Service Camp, 8200 Carnation Road SE, Bergholz, OH 43908.
(special notice)