Sandra Ditzig

Sandra Kay Ditzig

1940 2012

Sandra Kay Ditzig, 72, of Antioch, Ill., went home to her Lord and Savior on Thursday, July 26, 2012.

She was born April 19, 1940, in Waukegan, Ill., the first of four daughters born to Harold W. and Carol (Shaw) Scheskie. She grew up in Wadsworth, Ill., attending Wadsworth School and Warren Twsp. High School.

On March 19, 1960 she married Michael Ditzig III in Waukegan, Ill., and in 1964, they moved to Grass Lake, where they raised their three children. Sandy was very active in the Grass Lake School PTA, on the PTA Board, and had served as a Brownie Troop Leader. She was a charter member of the Millburn Rainbow Girls, a member of the Millburn Eastern Star, and served as Chapter Mom of the Millburn Order of DeMolay.

In 1972, she was hired at Victory Memorial Hospital where she began her career as a Respiratory Therapist, graduating from their first Respiratory Therapy Technician Program in 1975. She received her Registered Respiratory Therapy credentials in 1992; she received her Bachelor of Science Degree from the College of St. Francis, and her Master of Science Degree from National-Louis University. Sandra believed very strongly in continuing education, and was an active part in teaching EMTs and Paramedics several EMS programs. Sandy loved her career as a Respiratory Therapist and believed to the day she died that it had been a gift from God. Besides her multi-year employment at Victory, she also worked at St. Catherines Hospital in Kenosha, Wis., St. Therese Hospital in Waukegan, Ill., Condell Hospital in Libertyville, Ill., and St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Ill., and Orchard Medical Clinic, Antioch.

She loved music of all types and had been active in several choirs and also a musician. From the time she was six she had played the accordion and later the button box. One of her passions in life was genealogy, making numerous research trips to Salt Lake City with her friends. She was a member of several genealogy organizations and was a long time member of the Lake County Genealogy Society. She had made many research trips in the US doing genealogy and had also traveled to England where she successfully researched her mothers lines in to the 1600s. She was a member of the Mayflower Society and the DAR, and enjoyed visiting and photographing lighthouses, cooking, crocheting and reading. Sandra was a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church where she served as a Trustee, a Deacon, and an Elder. She also served as Team Leader of the VBS program and Christmas Sunday School Programs. She loved her Lord and wanted to share Him with others.

She is survived by her husband Michael, her children Janet (Alex) Dahmen of Glen Ellyn, Ill., and Hal (Sharon) of Salem, Wis.; two grandchildren whom she adored, Brian and Leslie Ann Dahmen; her sisters, Caron (Michael) OConner, Carol (the late Steve) Petranek and Jean (Terry) Butz. She will be joining in heaven: her son Michael James, and her parents.

A Celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, at the Strang Funeral Home of Antioch, 1055 Main St. (Rte. 83) Antioch, IL 60002. Interment will follow in Hillside Cemetery, Antioch. Visitation will be from 4-8PM Tuesday at the funeral home. Those desiring may make donations to the Calvary Presbyterian Church, 536 Cedar Lake Rd., Round Lake, IL 60073, in her memory. Please sign the online guest book for Sandy at www.strangfh.com.