Sandra Kern

Sandra Troyer Kern. With great peace and dignity, Sandra Troyer Kern passed from this earthly plane of existence on Sunday, February 1, 2009. She was at home, in the embrace of her loving family, and in the capable and compassionate care of VNA Hospice. Sandra was born in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania, on July 5, 1952, and grew up on a farm in Northwest Pennsylvania. During her life, she worked as an artist, an art teacher, a law librarian, a director of development and education with non-profit organizations, and as a psychotherapist. She excelled in all of these occupations because of her brilliant mind, boundless creativity, zesty love of life, terrific sense of humor and deep compassion for others. Sandra received a Bachelor of Arts from Bluffton College in Bluffton, Ohio in 1974, a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. in 1981, a Master of Fine Arts from the Meadows Museum School at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas in 1989, and a Master of Education with honors in guidance and counseling from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2000. In 1999, Sandra began practicing psychotherapy at the El Paso Child Guidance Center as a graduate student intern, and then for two years as a therapist. Sandra joined the Counseling Center of Expressive Arts in 2002, where she loved working with and helping many children, adolescents, and individual adults to find peace and wholeness. Sandra was a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Art Teacher. She served on the board and as an officer of the Far West Texas Association for Play Therapy from 2002-2007. She was also an active member of the American Counseling Association, Texas Counseling Association, Association for Play Therapy, and Sandplay Therapists of America. Sandra was a very active member of Temple Mount Sinai in El Paso where she served on various committees and taught Sunday School to pre-K and kindergarten for 15 years. Sandra was preceded in death by her father, John Troyer, her mothers-in-law Ruth Kern and Helen Kern and her sister-in-law Roberta Markman. She is survived by her husband, David Kern, daughter Mollie, sons Daniel and Chris, mother Martha Troyer, father-in-law Martin Kern and special family friend Dorothy Murray, brother Brent Troyer and spouse Lynda, brother-in-law Peter Markman, sisters Pam Swartz and spouse Steve, Sonya Trezevant and spouse Charlie, Cynthia McGarvey, and sister-in-law Suzan Kern, as well as many nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Wednesday, February 4, 2009, at 1:00 pm, at Temple Mount Sinai, 4408 North Stanton Street, with Rabbi Larry Bach officiating, followed by a procession and burial at Temple Mount Sinai Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Sandra's wonderful and loving friends: Susie Goldman, Nancy Heydemann, Myriam Kadri, Leah Miller, Jeri Nitzberg, Maria Rios, and Helen Wall. Honorary pallbearers were Suzanne O'Brian and Sally Pinon. The family wishes to thank the many wonderful friends and family members who have been and continue to be a tremendous help and comfort in difficult times. Your many acts of kindness, prayers, and good thoughts, too numerous to list here, were and are so very much appreciated. The love we have for Sandra will always live in our hearts and we are so very grateful for the time we had together on this earth and for the many immeasurable ways that her love and presence enriched our lives. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, VNA Hospice of El Paso, and the Temple Mount Sinai Youth and Education Fund. Services entrusted to Martin Funeral Home West, 128 N. Resler Dr., El Paso, TX 79912