Sandra Rose Van Cleve

Sandra Rose Van Cleve was born August 31, 1938 in Olney, IL. She was the daughter of Muriel and Marjorie Cutshall. She graduated from East Richland High School in 1956. On June 14, 1958 she married Charles Chadwick Van Cleve. Sandy received her RN degree from Union Hospital School of Nursing in Terre Haute, IN in 1960. In 1974 she graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts in Nursing. In 1980 she completed a Master of Science in Education in Guidance and Educational Psychology from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Sandy had been a resident of the Centralia area since 1962. She was a loving and generous wife, mother, grandmother and partner. Nothing made her happier than to have the entire family together for every special occasion. She enjoyed cooking, reading, and traveling. She had visited Europe and Brazil, as well as many interesting places throughout the U.S. Sandy was a nursing instructor at Rend Lake College for 25 years. She had a huge influence on her many students and in 1986 she was awarded the Teacher of the Year at Rend Lake College. Sandy was an active member in the community and had performed with Centralia Cultural Society Little Theater Group in various productions. For many years she was also an active member of the Centralia BPW - past president, Central City Lioness Club, American Association of University Women - past president and the ExPrexies Club. She attended First United Methodist Church in Centralia. Sandy had been a resident of Fireside Nursing home since 2015. She was preceded in death by her husband of thirty years, Charles Van Cleve, sister Ardith Sterchi, and parents Muriel and Marjorie Cutshall. Sandy is survived by daughter Rosemarie (Van Cleve) Finley and husband Gary of Kirklin, IN; son Gilbert “Gib” Van Cleve and wife Cherie of St. Louis, MO; son Kent Van Cleve of Centralia; grandchildren include Ian Finley of Sacramento, CA, Britton Finley and wife Hillarie of Westfield, IN, Charles N. Van Cleve and Allison Van Cleve of St. Louis, MO. She is also survived by her life partner of sixteen years, Floyd Mercer. A private family service will be held Friday, April 24, 2020 at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow in Have Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the CCBA Food Pantry, 900 E Rexford St., Centralia, IL 62801. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com.

Sandra Rose Van Cleve

August 31, 1938 - April 19, 2020