Sandra "Sandy" Calkins Kowalski, 72, of 2605 Rosalyn Trail, Long Beach, Ind., died Sunday afternoon (May 20, 2012) at her residence following a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
Born Dec. 2, 1939, in Johnsonburg, she was a daughter of James and Thelma Snyder Calkins. On Jan. 30, 1960, in Holy Rosary Church, Johnsonburg, she married Stanley Kowalski, who survives.
She had resided in Long Beach, Ind., for the past 47 years. She was a 1957 graduate of Johnsonburg High School; a 1960 graduate of University of Buffalo Edward J. Meyer Memorial Hospital School of Nursing as a registered nurse; a 1973 graduate of Purdue University Calumet; received a master's degree in nursing from St. Xavier's University in Chicago in 1977; and received a PhD in medical sociology from the University of Notre Dame in 1989.
She served on the boards of the Visiting Nurses Association, Concerned Citizens for the Homeless, Minority Health Coalition and the Stepping Stone Shelter for Abused Women in Michigan City, Ind. She was a member of the Porter County Task Force on HIV/AIDS. She was key to the development of the Pastoral Care Council of Notre Dame Church in Long Beach, Ind. She received the JC Penney Golden Rule Award in partnership with the United Way in 1992, received the Exchange Club of Michigan City's Book of Golden Deeds Award in 1999 and was honored by the Valparaiso University, Notre Dame University Alumni and the State of Indiana for her community service and contribution to service learning.
She was appointed in 1989 at Valparaiso University as an associate professor in the College of Nursing, where she had been teaching nursing for 23 years.
She had been a faculty member at Purdue University North Central while getting her field experience at the Mile Square Clinic at Cabrini Green and Robert Taylor low-income housing communities in Chicago, Ill. She had also been employed by the Visiting Nurses Association of LaPorte County and was the association's first hospital-to-home care coordinator and would become the VNA's advisor for 30 years.
Surviving in addition to her husband at home are three children, Michael Kowalski of Seattle, Wash., Steven Kowalski and Debra Kowalski, both of Michigan City, Ind.; three grandchildren, Amanda and Michael Fries and Jarod Kowalski; six brothers and sisters, Carol (Thomas) Parana, Cindy (Joel) Elmquist and Michael (Patty) Calkins, all of Johnsonburg; Jane Schuck of Orlando, Fla., Norma (John) Kurk of Lake Forest, Ill., and James (Janet) Calkins of Seattle, Wash.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Anthony F. Ferragine Funeral Home, 401 Chestnut St., Johnsonburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10 a.m. Saturday at Holy Rosary Church, Johnsonburg, with the Rev. David J. Wilson, pastor, as celebrant. Burial will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Johnsonburg.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Sandy Calkins Kowalski Community Nursing Fund through the Unity Foundation, P.O. Box 527, Michigan City, IN 46361.