Sandra Jeanne Ellis, age 78, “graduated to glory” on Jan. 29, 2022, at home in Surprise, Ariz. As a Hospice patient, she had endured eight months of increasing health problems related to COPD. Her husband James F. Ellis, her son Kevin James Ellis, her daughter Sharon Anne Hoffner, her son-in-law Mark Hoffner, her grandson Andy Ellis, her granddaughter Lydia Hoffner, and both of her brothers, Charles Everett Simon and Lawrence Ray Simon, and a dear family friend, Nicole Brown, were at her bedside.
She was a loving wife and mother, and in addition to her immediate family, leaves behind a large family of cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews.
“Sandy” was born April 25, 1943, in Carrol, to Everett Charles Simon and Violet Belle Simon. She was their first born child, followed by her brothers, “Chuck” and “Larry”.
Sandy attended a parochial school in Dunlap, and graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1961. After moving to Phoenix, Ariz. in 1962, with her parents and brothers, she worked as a nursing aid at Maryvale Hospital, in Phoenix. She met her future husband, “Jim Ellis”, at Maryvale Hospital, when he had business there as a Deputy Sheriff, following up on an accident victim’s condition.
In 1966, Sandy and Jim were married. There life together extended over 55 years. Initially, Sandy accepted employment with a Pediatrician, Dr. Joseph Kirschvink. She was his back office nurse. Dr. Joe once told Sandy that she was being exposed to so many assorted illnesses via sick babies, that she would never catch the “flu”. In fact, during 55 years of marriage she never had a cold, or the flu.
Jim left the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, in February 1967, and accepted employment with The Arizona Highway Patrol. On completion of the AHP Academy, they were transferred to Flagstaff, Ariz. in July 1967. The timing was fortunate as Sandy was able to enroll in the Nursing Program at Northern Arizona University. She graduated in 1969, and she and Jim were able to transfer to Mesa, Aria. with the Department of Public Safety. She accepted a position at Mesa Lutheran Hospital, as a surgical nurse.
One day Sandy received a phone call from Mrs. Doris Kirschvink, the wife of Dr. Joe Kirschvink. Doris invited Sandy and Jim to have dinner with her and Dr. Joe at The Wigwam. The purpose, later revealed, was to ask Sandy to come back on staff at his office. The offer was very good. She would be paid the same salary that she received working at Mesa Lutheran Hospital, and Dr. Joe included AAA insurance in case she had car trouble commuting between Mesa and Northwest Phoenix. Sandy was pleased, as was Jim. She promptly changed employers. She liked surgery, but loved babies, and Dr. Joe was a wonderful pediatrician and a special human being.
She took a break from nursing on the arrival of their first child, Kevin in 1973. Their second child, Sharon, arrived in 1975. Both were adopted as newborn infants. Sandy and Jim embraced adoption as being among God’s greatest of gifts. Sandy was deeply was grateful to the “birth” mothers who selflessly entrusted their children to her care and upbringing. She loved being a mother and wife. She excelled at both.
After her first few years of motherhood, Sandy returned to her career as a RN at Maryvale Hospital. She especially excelled at Psychiatric and Newborn Nursing. Her daughter, inspired to become a nurse herself, often marvels at the way Sandy humbly summarized her complex skills by saying “people just want to be listened to” and “babies just want to be loved”. Her listening ear and compassionate heart touched many lives.
Sandy’s family wishes to recognize the exceptional staff of Everest Hospice, for their tenderness, the gentle nature of their approach, their caring support, availability, and overall goodness. We are especially indebted to “Kelly” and “Jenny”. God Bless and keep you and your coworkers. Thank You.
Sandy’s endlessly positive and joyful presence will be sorely missed. A “Celebration of Life” will occur with family and friends, at a later date, to remember her life, and the goodness of God.
