Cheryl Lynn Martens Strella

1965 - 2017

CHERYL LYNN MARTENS STRELLA Cheryl was born April 14, 1965 in San Luis Obispo, CA. to Doug and Sandy Martens and passed away August 31, 2017 in El Dorado Hills, CA. The family moved to Concord, CA. in 1966. She started school in Concord CA. and in 1976 the family moved to Biggs CA. Cheryl was very active in the 4-H programs and sold many animals at the Silver Dollar Fair and The Butte County Fair. She enjoyed helping her mother milk the family milk cow Toni" and making fresh butter in the hand crank churn. Cheryl graduated from Biggs High School in 1983 as class Valedictorian. She attended The University of San Francisco for 2 years and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at California State University Chico in 1989. In 1985 she met Mike Strella and they were married in Chico in 1990. They have 2 daughters, Annie and Sarah. Cheryl worked at Enloe hospital as an RN until 1995 when Mike finished his education and they moved to the Sacramento area. She worked at Mercy Folsom, Mercy San Juan and Sutter Memorial Hospitals. In 2006 she started teaching clinical nursing for Sacramento City College. Cheryl retired from nursing in 2008 and began teaching full -time at Sacramento City College. She obtained her Masters Degree in 2011 and became a professor of nursing. She retired from teaching in December of 2015 due to health issues related to ALS. In January 2015 after struggling with walking for a year, Cheryl was diagnosed with familial ALS. In June 2017, Sacramento City College established a Nursing Scholarship in Cheryl's name. Cheryl was preceded in death by all of her grandparents and her mother. She is survived by her husband Mike and their 2 daughters Annie and Sarah. She is also survived by one sister Debbie Martens and her 2 sons Tyler and Jason. She is also survived by one brother Keith Martens and her father Douglas Martens. Cheryl loved her Church and her family. She enjoyed camping, scrapbooking, ancestry.com, the San Francisco Giants, the Sacramento Kings, and visiting with friends and family. She will be buried at Glen Oaks Cemetery in Chico, CA. Viewing will be held Sept. 6, 2017 from 5-8 p.m. at Affordable Mortuary, Chico, CA. A celebration of life will be held Sept. 23, 2017 at Lakehills Church in El Dorado Hills, CA. Cheryl was loved by all and will be missed. Donations to "ALSA, Greater Sacramento Chapter" for Cheryl's Angels.