Sandra K. Shaw

Sandra Kaye Shaw, born August 31, 1964 in Alliance, OH, was diagnosed with metastatic bile duct cancer of the liver in late April of 2024. She refused to let this diagnosis keep her from continuing to love life. In the following few months, she fought courageously until the afternoon of August 24, 2024, when she passed away peacefully with her family by her side at Cleveland Clinic Hospital Main Campus. She kept her goofy sense of humor, her grit towards hardships, and her tenderness for those she held close to her heart until the very end. And through it all, she was cherished in return. Earlier on the day of her passing, the Cleveland Clinic hospice staff honored her with a pinning ceremony to celebrate her years of service in the medical profession as a nurse and nurse practitioner.

She began her medical career working in patient admission in the emergency department at Akron City Hospital, and progressed to become a senior administrative secretary for medical research. Meanwhile, with a lot of hard work and many late nights studying with fellow students, many of whom have remained close friends, she put herself through nursing school, and became a coronary care nurse for several years. She then completed her masters of nursing degree, and worked as a nurse practitioner in family medicine before finally continuing her career in urology with Veterans Affairs in Cleveland, and cooperatively opening the VA urology clinic in Akron.

Sandy had incomparable selflessness, compassion, and dedication when it came to caring for others in both her career and at home. She opened her home to care for several family members for nearly two decades. Everyone would know to go to Nurse Sandy for even the most minor scrapes and bruises, which she would happily handle.

Prior to any of this, over thirty years ago, she was diagnosed with metastatic thyroid cancer, and was told she would not survive. She beat that prognosis, and chose to pursue a life full of everything but regrets. She had an immense and unwavering love of life, whether it be experiencing it or nurturing it. Her voice mail message, when she couldn’t answer the phone, exclaimed “I’m out living life” and to leave a message.

Whenever she had a few minutes to take a breakꟷ which was not very oftenꟷSandy was a Boy Scout troop leader in Mogadore; loved hiking, biking, and camping; crocheting and knitting; watching NCIS, Scooby-Doo, Harry Potter, and Star Trek; doing Zumba; and doting on her favorite (and only) granddaughter. She loved her rabbits, dogs, hamsters, and cats (despite being so gosh darn allergic). And most of all, she loved her friends and family. It is incredible how much strength, love, joy, kindness, and generosity could be contained in one person. And no one could out-stubborn Sandy. She was a true force of nature with boundless energy and spirit. 

She was preceded in death by her mother Sandra Walliser; her grandmother Anne Foehrenbach; her aunt Grethel Attar; sister-in-law Sherry Winstead; her hamsters Peanut, Hamlet, and Duncan; her rescued rabbits Chip, Oreo, Bippity, and Boppity; and her rescued dogs Luke and Johnny. 

She is survived by her father Robert Walliser, uncle Johnny Walliser (Dian), husband Eric, her son Steven Winstead (Amy), her granddaughter Emma Winstead, her daughters Kendra and Dana Shaw, her rescued buddies Luna the dog and Reggie the rabbit, quite a few cousins, nearly countless friends, and many coworkers.

There have been millions of words in hundreds of languages throughout human history but there are absolutely no words descriptive enough to fully capture this truly amazing woman, mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, friend, and person that she was. To have known Sandy was to have known the embodiment of kindness and generosity. Her family and friends looked to her like the sun, and basked in her endless light and warmth, grateful to have had the privilege to have had her as a cherished part of their lives. She is dearly loved and she will be missed. She can rest peacefully knowing she has left this world a better place, and anyone she knew an enriched human being.

A Private Graveside Service will take place.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 7th please visit attached link for more details. 

To share a memory of Sandra or leave a special message for her family, visit the guest book below.