Sandra Kaye Hammerstein

Sandra K Hammerstein, 80, of Fort Wayne, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Born on February 4, 1943, in Fort Wayne, she was a daughter of the late Ray E and Mary E (Esterline) Ditton.

Sandra lived a wonderful life full of family and friends. Her legacy lives on through her four sons and their families guided by the strength of character she instilled in them from their earliest days to her last. She gave her sons every bit of herself – often putting her own needs and desires last. But to her sons that was simply who she was – mom. She was a mom who gave a gentle, warm hand when needed and a firm punishment when deserved. She imbued into her sons a strength of body and character. She led by doing and showing. Never complaining, never shirking her duties and never speaking ill of someone else.

In Wapakoneta, Ohio where her sons attended middle school and high school, her exploits in raising her four boys became legendary. She was a constant fixture at Pantry Pride (the local grocery store) stopping there nearly every day to buy food for her boys. Every school day for nearly 15 years she would pull up to the school in her blue Dodge station wagon full of groceries to pick up her sons after football, wrestling or track practice. She and her groceries and station wagon became legends in her small town.

As her boys grew up and married she became a grandma and a great grandma. She loved it and gave all of her warmest, most loving self to all of her grandkids and her great grandchild.

She was very strong physically and perhaps born into a later generation where young woman were encouraged to participate in sports she would have certainly achieved great success. She really enjoyed tennis and volleyball. She was an avid knitter. Hand knitting and selling many items of clothing, but saving her best work for her family. She was very artistic and crafty – often handcrafting items for family members – especially wooden dollhouses. She also worked hard making and maintaining her family’s home. She painted, fixed things, repaired barn roofs, cultivated an acre plus garden each year, managed a small apple orchard and made homemade cider. As always, she did most of this with her boys in tow, leading the way. Often hollering out – “you’re not tired, keep going, we’re almost done.” Or, “can’t never did anything”.

Her Legacy lives on in her boys and their families and all the others that knew her and knew how she lived her life.

She is survived by her sons, Mike, Mark and his wife Marie, Matt and his wife Annie, and John Paul and his wife Jeanette; her grandchildren Matt, Kate, Hazel, Lila, Elka, Jasper and Freya. And her great grandson Benjamin; and by her loving sister Karen Humbrecht. She was also preceded in death by her husband John and her brother Ray Ditton.

Arrangements have been entrusted to D.O. McComb and Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Road, Fort Wayne.

The family invites you to share in the celebration of Sandra’s life by attending the inurnment and a reception that follows on Saturday, August 19th in Fort Wayne Indiana.

Graveside inurnment will be at 11:00 a.m. in Lindenwood Cemetery, 2324 W. Main St., Ft.Wayne, Indiana. Reception to follow (12:00 – 2:00) at University of St. Francis, 2701 Spring Street, Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

Memorial donations may be given to Northeast Indiana Right to Life, or Humane Fort Wayne. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Hammerstein family at www.mccombandsons.com