Deanna was born on May 4, 1969, in Beirut, Lebanon to Barbara and Harold Sanders.
Shortly after the birth of her younger brother David, the family moved to Eugene, Oregon where her dad was a teacher.
After graduating from South Eugene High School, Deanna attended Seattle Pacific University and transferred to Western Oregon University earning a teaching degree. Her first teaching job was for the Gervais School District. After a few years she moved to Keiser-Salem School District and taught there for many years. During this time, she earned her Master’s Degree in Bilingual Education.
She bought a house and planned to settle down. She attended church and sang in the choir.
During this time, she was diagnosed with cancer. She fought hard and went into remission.
Shortly after, she met her future husband, Joe. After they married, they moved to Gresham. She started teaching for the Gresham School District. Deanna and Joe welcomed two sons, Benjamin and Peter. The boys were the world to Deanna; she started teaching half time to spend more time with them. When the boys were in Middle School, she was again diagnosed with cancer and this time, it never left. She fought hard for many years, never wanting it to define who she was. This was an especially hard time for her as she lost both of her parents within 6 months of each other.
Deanna loved deeply and her positive attitude was infectious and a light for those around her.
She loved her Lord Jesus deeply. She loved to travel and sing in the choir, teach, her boys and husband who can’t wait to see her again in heaven.
She is survived by those mentioned as well as sister-in-Law Rachel and nephews Jonah and Aaron and a host of Joe’s family.