Sandy Ernsdorff is the loving and nurturing mother to our CEO, Michelle Ernsdorff, and she is also one of the founding Board Members.

“I never really felt like I was an interesting person, just a regular girl,” Sandy says. Yet, her life is far from regular. Sandy was a stay home mother to one, two, three, four, FIVE children.  As if that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, she also hosted a daycare center in her home for 15 years.  So taking care of children has always been the focus of her life.

Yet, that is not where it ends. She  is currently a secretary for Dubuque Pre Cana and sells Mary Kay cosmetics.  At the age of 55, she ran the Chicago Marathon with her daughter, Dina, who is also a Board Member, and has done 5Ks with her other children, which she notes, “are so much fun when you have family around.”

Sandy works out 5 days a week doing either body pump, running, playing pickle ball, or doing yoga. Somedays she does them all! Aside from being extremely active, Sandy also knits and quilts.  She even restored the blankie that Michelle carried with her during her cancer treatment.  Since most of her family live all over the country, she loves traveling because she gets to see her children and grandchildren. (They love seeing her too!)

With the personal experience of traveling to the Mayo Clinic with Michelle when she battled cancer and personally experiencing the emotions that a family has to go through during this nightmare, Sandy felt that there was a real need for Compass to Care.

In addition to serving as the Board Secretary, she also consistently assists with managing the applications families send in seeking support, volunteers for events, and graciously fills in each time Michelle calls and ask, “hey Mom can you help me?”

We are so thankful to Sandy for her commitment to the Board of Directors and for taking on many of the other day-to-day tasks to help keep Compass to Care’s mission alive.

(PHOTO L-R: Daughter- Michelle Ernsdorff, Grandson- Waylon, Daughter- Sara Stewart, Granddaughter-Sophie, Son-in-law- Mark, Sandy, Daughter- Dina Bright)