Born in Bytca, Czechoslovakia, Anna Pandula Sanchez was the oldest of 7 children, with 6 younger brothers. She studied medicine at the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic and worked as a pediatrician in the Regional Hospital in Trnava, Slovakia. She immigrated to the United States in 1969 along with her first husband and two children, following the 1968 Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia and the subsequent communist crackdown.
Anna remarried to Gualbert Sanchez and together they served as doctors in the United States Air Force. Later in her career, she returned to school and completed her residency in diagnostic radiology, and ultimately retired from the Air Force with a rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Anna cherished her family and friends both in the US and in Slovakia. She valued honesty, integrity, respect, hard work, health, and freedom. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, reading, and listening to music, and found tremendous comfort in her faith in Jesus Christ.
Anna passed away on January 13, 2025 at Palomar Hospital in Escondido from medical complications resulting from the flu. She is survived by her husband Gualbert Sanchez, her children Louis Pandula, Jane Park, Ramon Sanchez and Monika Sanchez, her brothers, Jozef Jezik, Peter Jezik and Ondrej Jezik, as well as seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She is dearly missed by all.
There will be a viewing on Sunday, Feb. 2nd from 4:00 to 8:00pm at Eternal Hills Mortuary in Oceanside, CA. A Mass will be held on Monday, Feb 3d from 10:00 to 11:00am at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Oceanside followed by the burial at Eternal Hills Cemetery at 11:30am. A reception and lunch will be provided at 12:00pm at Eternal Hills Mortuary.
