Sandra A. Shelby

Sandra A. Shelby, nee Wertz, age 75, late of Schererville, IN, passed away peacefully Saturday, January 18, 2020 after a courageous battle with breast cancer.  Loving wife of James Shelby.  Devoted mother of Nancy Arendt, Melinda (Kevin) Bendle, and Daniel (Jocelyn) Shelby.  Proud grandmother of Hope Meierkort, Margaret and Elisabeth Bendle, and Sophia, Cailyn, Wesley, and Jessie Shelby.  Dear sister of Dean (Chris) Wertz, Linda (Richard) Trout, Lowell (Claudia) Wertz, Wayne (Rene) Wertz, and sister-in-law of Sandra Schill.  Preceded in death by her parents Orvis and Ruth Wertz and brother Howard Wertz.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 22 from 3:00 pm until the funeral service at 6:30 pm at Smits Funeral Home 2121 Pleasant Springs Lane (Rt 30 & Pleasant Springs Ln) Dyer, IN.  Interment will be private at Oakland Memory Lanes Cemetery-Dolton, IL.  In grateful appreciation for their help and comfort in her time of need, the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to William J. Riley Hospice House-Munster, IN.

Sandra was born September 17, 1944 in Chicago, IL. She grew up on Greenbay Avenue in Lansing, IL and attended Memorial Junior High and TF South High Schools. She then studied Home Economics at Chicago Teacher’s College. Sandra had a love of adventure and regularly took her family camping, on road trips to historical sites, Christian camps and conference centers, to Wertz Island in Ontario, Canada and most recently their trailer at Sun-N-Fun in Sarasota, FL. She was artistic and creative, could sew beautifully, decorated cakes (including many family wedding cakes), made ceramics, painted and also helped design the house her family built on Lighthouse Court in Lynwood, IL. Sandra was a women of deep faith and was actively involved in many churches in the area-participating in women’s programs, teaching Sunday Schools, leading VBS, sponsoring the Singles Ministry and serving on Missions Committees. Over the years, she worked at The Breadbasket, Kmart, Sterks and as a church secretary. However, most often Sandra was known as “The Tea Lady” for the many years she opened her home to hundreds of women and, through “Victorian Special Teas,” introduced them to the tradition of High Tea which she served elegantly and with love. Sandra’s main priority was always her family and she honored that through her devotion to Jim, her parents, and time at home educating her children and nurturing their talents and interests. She loved being a grandmother and it was truly her greatest joy. Sandra was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a daughter, a sister, a sister-in-law, an aunt, a niece, a cousin and a friend to many. All who knew her mourn her passing though we have hope that she is at peace and with her savior and that we will be with her again.