Sondra Ann Ammeen

Santina (Sondra) Ammeen, age eighty-one, died of complications from metastatic breast cancer on December 4, 2022. She leaves behind her husband Paul Ammeen; daughter Jill (Tim) Phillips; daughter Kelly (Jon) Lambert; son Tray (Lisa) Vedock; son Tod Vedock and Amy Dunn-Ruiz; son Charles (Tara) Ammeen; and fourteen grandchildren: Nick (Lane) Phillips; Tony Phillips; Audrey and Jack Lambert; Claire, Grace, Sophia, and Olivia Vedock; Giana and Isha Vedock; and Bridget, Margaret, Cecelia, and Charlotte Ammeen.

Born in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania on June 11, 1941, Sondra was the daughter of the late Isman (Easy) and Ursuline (Sue) Mariotti. She was preceded in death by her sister, Vida MacMurdo Sweeney. Sondra graduated from Seton Hill University with a B.A. in Psychology and English. She taught high school English in multiple states and worked as a community education director in Derby, Kansas. She later earned a master’s degree in Administration from Wichita State University. A lifelong advocate for female leadership, Sondra proudly served as the first female principal of Rose Hill High School in Rose Hill, Kansas.

Following her career as an educator and administrator, Sondra joined her husband in his telecommunications business, SKC Communications. Their children ran the company until 2021.

Sondra was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer at age fifty-three. Following her diagnosis, she lived for twenty-six happy and healthy years. She lived as she loved: boldly, and without limitations. Unsurprising to anyone who witnessed her vigor for life, she dedicated herself to multiple creative pursuits. Sondra was a prolific oil painter. She often painted scenes of water, Spanish moss, and marshes near her and Paul’s home in Moss Creek. She and Paul shared a love for ballroom dancing. In 2009, they won the top amateur couple award at the Fred Astaire Cross-Country Dance Competition. They jointly owned Seaquins Ballroom in Bluffton, South Carolina.

Sondra was a passionate advocate for cancer patients. She organized multiple fundraisers for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. She also connected with fellow cancer patients through her writing. An author of five books of poetry detailing her battle with cancer, Sondra donated profits from her book sales to cancer research. For one of her books, she interviewed multiple cancer survivors and painted each participant a portrait.

Sondra loved her family fiercely. She instilled in her children and grandchildren a spirit of passion, creativity, and perseverance. Her unmistakably vibrant and energetic presence was deeply cherished. Sondra was referred to in numerous ways – she was a wife, a mother, a daughter, and a grandmother. She held many roles – a teacher and leader to many; an artist, a poet, an entrepreneur, and an entertainer to others. But in her later years, she was most often and most fondly referred to by one name: Nonna.

A celebration of life will be held at Seaquins Ballroom at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks for donations to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure
P.O. Box 650309, Dallas TX 75265
Web: http://www.komen.org/