Cecilia Ann Balkenhol

BALKENHOL, CECILIA ANN "SANDY" Cecilia Ann Balkenhol "Sandy" was born on December 11, 1943, in San Diego's Mercy Hospital to William Shepherd Coleman and Elizabeth Frances (Herlevic) Coleman. Sandy had five siblings, an older brother and four younger sisters. She attended San Diego parochial schools where she received many honors and a scholarship for her final year of high school and as well as scholarships to attend University of San Diego, where she completed her teaching credential. Struck with wanderlust, she set out to spend several years in Europe where she taught in a number of international schools and became fluent in several languages. She also met her husband, Klaus Balkenhol, during these travels. They lived in Kaiserswert, Germany for several years where her daughter was born. Shortly after their daughter's birth, they moved to San Diego and lived in the Mission Hills neighborhood. Their son Peter was born in San Diego. Sandy was a remarkable woman with many interests and talents. She used these talents while teaching school and pursuing a career in real estate, while raising her family. She was involved in volunteerism and service in her local parish, as well as for the National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI SD) and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). She was pursuing a master's degree in social work at the time of her illness. In addition to her siblings, Sandy leaves behind her mother, Elizabeth Coleman and her daughter, Simone. She was preceded in death by her father, Shep Coleman, and her beloved son Peter. Peter was killed, at age 29, when struck by a vehicle while crossing a street on March 4, 2005. Sandy will be greatly missed by her mother Elizabeth with whom she lived and cared for over the past 10 years. Sandy was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic lung cancer in October, 2008. When she was released from the hospital on November 7th, her daughter Simone brought Sandy to her home in San Jose to care for her throughout her illness. Sandy died with her daughter by her side on December 27, 2008. Please join us in a remembrance of her life on February 6, 11 a.m., at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Mission Hills, 4080 Hawk St., San Diego, CA, 92103. In lieu of flowers, please join us in donating towards increasing the library at the St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School in memory of my mother and my brother. If you wish to send condolence cards or a contribution please send to Simone Balkenhol, 3702 Lynx Court, San Jose, CA 95136.