Sandra Eckels
February 24, 1949–January 25, 2026

Surrounded by family, Sandy let loose of this world and flew to the arms of her beloved parents and sisters waiting beyond on 25 January 2026. Born in Evansville, Indiana she was the oldest sister in her clan and was adoringly referred to as “Sis” or “Sissy” for the rest of her life by all her siblings Moving to Ojai, California as a teen in 1963, she provided stability and guidance to her younger sisters, showering them with love and indulgence. Possessing a lovely voice, she would sing them to sleep at night and, though never having had lessons, would play the piano by ear to entertain them. As a young woman working as a nurse’s aid, she used her meager earnings to buy two horses for her sisters, engendering a love of horses that has now been passed down through generations. This generosity would continue to define her throughout her adult life. A career nurse, she began as a humble “candy striper,” a volunteer nurse at Ojai Hospital. This service lit a passion that she pursued the rest of her life, working in hospitals throughout Ventura County, including Community Memorial, Ventura County Medical Center, Saint John’s Regional Health Center, and Ojai Community Hospital until she finally retired after a workplace injury

Blessed with two children, Rozalynn Wynn and Wesley Allen, Sandy earned her RN license and continued to work long hours as a nurse raising them as a single mother. In her final years she split her time between their homes in Oak View, California and Sacramento, California, as well as her brother’s in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She remained incredibly proud of Roz and Wes and the sports achievements of her grandchildren. She was notorious for the number of photos and videos she would send of them to family and friends. She loved every aspect of family life and embraced the annoying jobs, like sock sorting, whose completion made the wheels of a busy household turn just a little easier. In addition to her own children, Sandy’s generosity extended across the family over the years. Her home was home to whomever needed shelter or support, siblings, nieces and nephews. All were welcome under her roof when in need. She found a way to make a space and provide a meal. Her heart truly knew no bounds.

If generosity was her lifeblood, homecooked meals were the currency through which family was enriched. Competent in all the home arts, she loved cooking best, whether it be decorated holiday treats, chewy ginger cookies or her famous potato salad—a recipe that was in high demand for holiday dinners and picnics alike, reputedly the best west of the Ohio River and, arguably, in the family. A final shopping list found in her room for a dinner she’d not made yet, contained a note reminding her to ask each member of the household what their favorite part of the chicken was so she could include it in the meal. Holiday dinners with Aunt Sandy’s parade of pies will remain the template upon which all future celebrations are built.

After retirement Sandy cultivated new interests and had more time to enjoy those she had long appreciated. Along with baking, crocheting, and needle point, she developed a love for making upcycled jewelry, and she spent many hours in her sister’s ceramic’s studio both working in clay and painting landscapes. Although limited by physical disability in her last years, she still loved to get outdoors, driving up Hwy 33 with family members to see the Matilija Poppies, lupine, and penstemon, watching birds at Rose Valley Lakes, fishing from the dock with her nephew, or simply catching a cool breeze off of Lake Casitas to ease the grueling summer heat.

She is already greatly missed and survived by children Wesley Wallace (Wajma), Rozalynn DeAlba (Jesse); brother Calvin Eckels (Krystal), sister Crystal Eckels Davis (Brad); grandchildren Aliya, Jesse, Sudais, River; nieces and nephews Eilene Montgomerie, Curt Fischer (Kristen), David Eckels, Dieter Eckels, Joseph Eckels, Shaun Davis (Tami), Paul Prichard (Yuko), Aaron Prichard (Patience), and Shana Jones. She was preceded in death by her parents Maryellen and Calvin Eckels, by sisters Rita (Eckels) VanHorn and Suzanne (Eckels) Jones, and by nephew Jarrett Jones.

A celebration of life will be held in Ojai, California later this spring.