Susan (Teetz) Sanford

Susan (Teetz) Sanford, age 65, of Castalia, Ohio and formerly of Upper Sandusky, passed away on Sunday, April 16th, 2023 at her home with her husband by her side.

Sue was born on June 27, 1957 in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Her parents were Everett C. “Pete” and Edith M. (Oney) Fields. She was married to Jim Platt on June 17, 1977, and later married Rick Sanford on December 30, 1988, both of whom survive.

She is survived by her children: Brittney (Jacob) Walton of Upper Sandusky; Jared Parker (Erin) Platt of Upper Sandusky; Kim (Rob) Underwood of Vickery, Ohio; and Shileigh (Ben) Ziessler of Upper Sandusky; twelve grandchildren: Grace, Josh, Lily, Matthew, Evelyn, Talynn, Brenyn, Elani, Tobi, Makayla, Miranda and Lexi Jade, along with three great-grandchildren: Hendricks, Karter and Taeton.

Sue was a former member of the Upper Sandusky Church of the Nazarene and later the Sandusky Church of the Nazarene in Castalia, where she was active in the choir, worship team, Christmas programs and dramas.

Sue graduated from Upper Sandusky High School in 1975 and went on to attend Marion Technical College where she graduated as a registered nurse and began a life’s work in the nursing field. She began her nursing career at Wyandot Memorial Hospital, where she worked alongside her most trusted friends while caring for the community, most specifically, in the OB department from 1978 to 1986. She loved her work and was adamant nursing was a calling, especially for her. As she advanced her career, she became the Director of Obstetrics at Hardin Memorial Hospital from 1986 to 1995. She was awarded with Innovation Awards by the Nursing Coalition for developing programs within the county to help the underserved population of new mothers. In 1995, she was sought after to open a brand new obstetrics unit for Providence Hospital in Sandusky, something she was immensely proud of. She documented the first baby ever born in the brand new unit, to which she continued an ongoing friendship with the family. She continued to receive many rewards for her innovation, contribution and passion throughout the years she worked at Providence, including an establishment of a partnership with Heartbeat Pregnancy Center in Sandusky. Her calling led her to further her education along the way, receiving both her Bachelors and Masters degrees while continuing to touch the lives of countless patients, colleagues and nursing students at Baypark, Mercy Health in Lorain, Owens Community College, and finishing her career as Director of OB at Tiffin Mercy in 2013, when she retired. In addition to her hands-on career, she served on the Ohio Board of Nursing and was a member of the Maternity and Newborn Advisory Council. While her nursing career was highly decorated as she pursued excellence, the most important part of her work was always people. The new mothers she cared for, their new babies, the nurses and physicians she worked alongside were always a part of her. There was no separating the two: they were all family to her and she celebrated them often by hosting annual parties in her home.

Sue was talented and had a variety of hobbies. She played the piano, mostly old hymns, and she sang beautifully. She taught her children the love of music as she played the piano and taught them to sing alongside, continuing with her grandchildren, having concerts in the car while driving – singing to Disney soundtracks, the Sound of Music or contemporary Christian worship – she let her heart out by singing. She also had collections of various figures that included pigs, Precious Moments and snowmen. Most of this began as a small interest but was perpetuated by gifts she received from those who loved her. Any gift she was given, especially toward these collections, she kept. She said they all meant something to her. They were not simply a “thing,” but rather a reflection of whomever the giver was and it always made her smile to be the recipient of such thoughtful kindness. She was a sports enthusiast having played basketball and softball during her high school years but also coaching her daughters in softball as well, in the summer leagues and at the varsity level. No matter the sport, she was a fan. She cheered on her kids and grandkids at cross country, swim, basketball, football, soccer, baseball, softball, wrestling, volleyball, dance or cheer — whatever sport each was inclined to, she was there. In her most recent years, she wasn’t always able to attend events but was always watching online when available, texting her commentary to her kids during the game, usually about the officiating. She loved to shop, almost like a treasure hunt to see what beautiful things she could find, mostly as it related to each holiday, with decorations for them all. The most important hobby for her though was just spending time with her husband, kids, grandkids and great-grandkids – doing something or doing nothing – just to be together filled her heart. She loved them all so very much.  

We will celebrate Sue’s remarkable life and legacy during the funeral service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at the Upper Sandusky Church of the Nazarene, with Pastor Aaron Thacker officiating. 

Visitations will be held on Friday, April 21, 2023 from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lucas Batton Funeral Home in Upper Sandusky, and one hour before service time at the church on Saturday, with a nurses memorial tribute to be held at the beginning of the service Saturday.

Memorial contributions may be made to Heartbeat Pregnancy Center in Sandusky or to the Susan Sanford Memorial Scholarship for Nursing and can be sent to Lucas-Batton, 476 S. Sandusky Ave., Upper Sandusky, OH 43351

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