Sandra Lane (Schaefer) Rohan

Sandra Lane (Schaefer) Rohan was born September 11, 1944, in Detroit Michigan, and after a life of travel, family, and dancing she joined her parents Wanda Aileen and Edwin Anthony Schaefer, and twin sister Diana Konopka at heaven’s gates Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at the age of 78.

Sandra graduated from Dominican High School in June of 1962 and Mercy College of Detroit on June 5, 1966, with a Bachelor of Medical Record Science. Sandra spent most of her professional career at Straith Memorial Hospital as Director of Medical Records in Southfield Michigan. Retiring Straith she quickly grew antsy and decided to pick things back up for another 6 years in the medical records department at the University of Michigan.

Never able to sit still very long, Sandy found adventure in flipping homes and soon found a lifelong business partner in her son Anthony Tisler where she made sure she asked all the questions and pointed out anything he may have missed! Sandy was very detail oriented and was always on the go. She never missed a family event or book club date.

When she wasn’t dancing in the driveway saying goodbye to her kids and grandkids, she was working in her garden alongside her daughter Heidi. Bonding over picking weeds is something many of us may never understand. However, it was the conversation, the funny stories, the “green cake” and coke-a-cola cans that made every visit to Sandy’s house one you didn’t want to miss.

Sandy decided to make her last move to a house overlooking a quiet part of White Lake. Kayaking and paddle-boarding with her youngest daughter Jennifer was always worth the sweat and sightseeing around the lake. The quiet cove with swans made for the perfect peaceful conversations in the kitchen with her daughter Michelle. But the most memorable was her fun summer parties, where everyone brought a dish to pass as we all looked forward to having some of her famous potato salad. Sandy always mentioned that she had found the perfect house that would keep everyone together.

However, the lake parties didn’t hold a candle to the power of her kitchen island where laughter, whipped cream mouthfuls, and grandma’s famous waffles were served. Sandy was not only a mother and friend but a grandmother to 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. In 2017, she proudly adopted her new nickname “GiGi” and would explain the importance to anyone who would listen including the lady in the fabric section at Hobby Lobby! She never grew tired of hearing the little voices yell "GIGI" as soon as she came through the door. Her smile is something no one will ever forget. Never seeming to slow down from family trips, wiener schnitzel in Frankenmuth, outlet shopping, and hunting down the best lemon rice soup or grape leaves, nothing brought her more joy than crawling into tents, dressing up as Spiderman, taking over bottle feedings, or putting that can of coke into the freezer for no less and no more than 60 minutes.

When she wasn’t making the room smile with her insane light-up shoes or festive outfits, she was a shoulder to cry on, a best friend to talk to, a guiding light that always led the way for anyone that came to her, a hug that was always tight and would always make sure your belly was full. She was our little 5-foot warrior who never let anything keep her down. She always found a way to come out positive and push forward.

“The very best relationship has a gardener and a flower. The gardener nurtures and the flower blooms.”

- Carole Radziwill

Sandra, Sandy, Mom, Grandma or GiGi was our gardener, and knowing and loving her has made each of us bloom. Sandra is survived by her four children, Michelle Wissman, Heidi Pleiness, Anthony Tisler and Jennifer Droz and her 11 Grandchildren and eight Great Grandchildren.

In lieu of gifts please donate to Sandra’s favorite place to get a coke or a sausage biscuit –The Ronald McDonald House Charity and help support a cause which echoed Sandy’s greatest achievement – Keeping her family close.

RMHC Detroit Donations

Making a donation to RMHC Detroit means you are helping the families of ill or injured children by allowing them to have a place of respite, retreat and community during the hardest times of their lives. We appreciate your support in #KeepingFamiliesClose

Please click this link to donate: www.rmhcdetroit.kindful.com or text FAMILY to 313-946-9941 to have a link sent to you.

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Sandra Lane (Schaefer) Rohan was born September 11, 1944, in Detroit Michigan, and after a life of travel, family, and dancing she joined her parents Wanda Aileen and Edwin Anthony Schaefer, and twin sister Diana Konopka at heaven’s gates Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at the age of 78.

Sandra graduated from Dominican High School in June of 1962 and Mercy College of Detroit on June 5, 1966, with a Bachelor of Medical Record Science. Sandra spent most of her professional career at Straith Memorial Hospital as Director of Medical Records in Southfield Michigan. Retiring Straith she quickly grew antsy and decided to pick things back up for another 6 years in the medical records department at the University of Michigan.

Never able to sit still very long, Sandy found adventure in flipping homes and soon found a lifelong business partner in her son Anthony Tisler where she made sure she asked all the questions and pointed out anything he may have missed! Sandy was very detail oriented and was always on the go. She never missed a family event or book club date.

When she wasn’t dancing in the driveway saying goodbye to her kids and grandkids, she was working in her garden alongside her daughter Heidi. Bonding over picking weeds is something many of us may never understand. However, it was the conversation, the funny stories, the “green cake” and coke-a-cola cans that made every visit to Sandy’s house one you didn’t want to miss.

Sandy decided to make her last move to a house overlooking a quiet part of White Lake. Kayaking and paddle-boarding with her youngest daughter Jennifer was always worth the sweat and sightseeing around the lake. The quiet cove with swans made for the perfect peaceful conversations in the kitchen with her daughter Michelle. But the most memorable was her fun summer parties, where everyone brought a dish to pass as we all looked forward to having some of her famous potato salad. Sandy always mentioned that she had found the perfect house that would keep everyone together.

However, the lake parties didn’t hold a candle to the power of her kitchen island where laughter, whipped cream mouthfuls, and grandma’s famous waffles were served. Sandy was not only a mother and friend but a grandmother to 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. In 2017, she proudly adopted her new nickname “GiGi” and would explain the importance to anyone who would listen including the lady in the fabric section at Hobby Lobby! She never grew tired of hearing the little voices yell "GIGI" as soon as she came through the door. Her smile is something no one will ever forget. Never seeming to slow down from family trips, wiener schnitzel in Frankenmuth, outlet shopping, and hunting down the best lemon rice soup or grape leaves, nothing brought her more joy than crawling into tents, dressing up as Spiderman, taking over bottle feedings, or putting that can of coke into the freezer for no less and no more than 60 minutes.

When she wasn’t making the room smile with her insane light-up shoes or festive outfits, she was a shoulder to cry on, a best friend to talk to, a guiding light that always led the way for anyone that came to her, a hug that was always tight and would always make sure your belly was full. She was our little 5-foot warrior who never let anything keep her down. She always found a way to come out positive and push forward.

“The very best relationship has a gardener and a flower. The gardener nurtures and the flower blooms.”

- Carole Radziwill

Sandra, Sandy, Mom, Grandma or GiGi was our gardener, and knowing and loving her has made each of us bloom. Sandra is survived by her four children, Michelle Wissman, Heidi Pleiness, Anthony Tisler and Jennifer Droz and her 11 Grandchildren and eight Great Grandchildren.

In lieu of gifts please donate to Sandra’s favorite place to get a coke or a sausage biscuit –The Ronald McDonald House Charity and help support a cause which echoed Sandy’s greatest achievement – Keeping her family close.

RMHC Detroit Donations

Making a donation to RMHC Detroit means you are helping the families of ill or injured children by allowing them to have a place of respite, retreat and community during the hardest times of their lives. We appreciate your support in #KeepingFamiliesClose

Please click this link to donate: www.rmhcdetroit.kindful.com or text FAMILY to 313-946-9941 to have a link sent to you.