Helen Raleigh Neisess

Helen Raleigh Sanderson Neisess (known as Sandy and lovingly referred to as “Mader” by family) passed away peacefully on March 27th, in her Fullerton home surrounded by her family after suffering a stroke, 2 weeks after joyfully celebrating her 97th birthday with family & friends.

Born March 9th 1925 to Raleigh and Lois Sanderson on a Pima Native American Reservation in Arizona, Helen was the oldest of 8 children and helped to care for everyone. In primary school her teacher decided to call her “Sandy” short for Sanderson (as there were too many Helens in class) and the name stuck with her for the rest of her life.

Sandy moved to CA to attend USC and obtain a degree in Nursing and while there she worked as a Nurse at Fullerton Community Hospital for many years. Family, friends, and neighbors remember her as someone who always wanted to help others and would do so whenever able. She and her husband dedicated their lives to many charitable organizations and their church FFUMC, where they were active members for the bulk of their lives.

Through a mutual friend in school Sandy was introduced to Kendall Neisess and the two quickly fell deeply in love. Eloping to Las Vegas to be Wed, the pair then built a home in Fullerton where they would live and remain married happily for nearly 73 years. They are deeply mourned by their 5 children; Robin (Wayne) Scofield, Roger (Kathy), Devon (Larry) York, Kurt (JoAnn), Scott (Tina); 14 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren.

For 50+ years the couple led the Weekday Christian Education program that provided the Chapel on Wheels trailers to Elementary schools. Kendall worked diligently to convert trailers into classroom chapels and then hauled them wherever they needed to go while Sandy developed course material, taught classes, and found fellow instructors. Even into her 90s Sandy attended Chapel meetings and offered to help wherever she could.

A public viewing will be held Friday April 22nd at McAulay &Wallace Mortuary in Fullerton 5-8pm along with a Memorial Service on April 23rd at 2pm held at Fullerton First United Methodist Church, with a reception at the church immediately following. She will be interred beside the love of her life, Kendall at Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton. In lieu of flowers Sandy would’ve liked donations to be made to; The Chapel on Wheels PO BOX 5281 FULL CA 92838 or the Methodist Youth Services 114 N. Pomona Ave FULL CA 92831