Fremont Community Mourns the Loss of Dorothy “Dottie” Sanders, Dedicated Volunteer and Beloved Resident
A life devoted to service and family has come to a close with the passing of Dorothy (Dottie Cramer) L. Sanders, 94, of Fremont, Ohio. Sanders passed away on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at St. Catherine’s Manor in Fostoria, Ohio, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and community involvement.
Born on June 4, 1931, in Tiffin, Ohio, to Adrian & Ethel (Buto) Cramer, Dottie Sanders exemplified a spirit of dedication throughout her nearly century-long life. She was a 1950 graduate of Columbian High School in Tiffin and began a career marked by service to others.
Sanders’ commitment to her community was evident in her decades of volunteer work. She generously gave her time to the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and the Blood Mobile, demonstrating a profound empathy for those in need. Her dedication extended to ProMedica Home Health and Hospice of ProMedica Hospital, where she was recognized as Hospice Volunteer of the Year for the State of Ohio in November 2008. This prestigious award underscored her exceptional contributions to end-of-life care.
Beyond her formal volunteer roles, Sanders was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Clyde, Ohio, where she shared her gift of song as a member of the Church Choir for over eight years and contributed to the church’s worship life through her service on the Worship Committee. She was also an honorary member of Chapter #189 of the Eastern Star and a member of the former Sweet Adeline’s Northern Buckeye Chorus, showcasing her diverse interests and passions.
Sanders’ professional life also reflected her dedication to service. From 1950 to 1952, she served as a secretary at the Conservatory Hall of Music at Heidelberg College. She later worked for Drs. Monahan & Wilson from 1952 to 1954, and dedicated 28 years to Dr. Eugene Dierksheide and numerous physicians at Women’s Medical Center in Fremont, Ohio.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest (Ernie) L. Sanders, in 2008; her daughter-in-law, Luann Sanders, in 2020; and her parents, Adrian and Ethel Cramer, in 1953.
Sanders is survived by her son, Mark A. (Jennifer) Sanders of Tiffin, Ohio; her granddaughter, Heidi M. (Kyle Looney) Sanders; and her great-granddaughter, Raeann Looney, both of Beavercreek, Ohio, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Dottie’s memory to the First United Methodist Church in Clyde, Ohio; Hospice of ProMedica Hospital; the Sandusky County Humane Society; Back to the Wild in Castalia, Ohio; or to the donor’s charity of choice.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Hanneman-Keller Funeral Home, located at 416 S. Arch St., Fremont, OH 43420. Funeral services will take place at the funeral home on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 11:00 am, with burial to follow at Greenlawn Memory Gardens in Clyde, Ohio.
Hanneman Funeral Homes is honored to serve the Sanders family and invites those wishing to share a fond memory or condolence to visit www.hannemanfuneralhomes.com. Dottie Sanders will be fondly remembered for her warm personality, her unwavering smile, and her lifelong commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.
