California Obituaries
San Bernardino County 

"Big Bear Grizzly"; Submitted by Peggy Hooper

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Kirsten Sandstrom
 
Published: Thursday, April 1, 2010 12:37 PM PDT

The bright light of a beautiful woman and a life well lived continues to radiate throughout 
the Sabre Springs and Carmel Mountain Ranch communities despite the March 25 passing 
of Kirsten Leigh Pasquinelli Sandstrom. A valiant, 21-month battle against cancer, specifically 
ACC, did not dim the humor and love of Kirsten, wife of Los Penasquitos Elementary teacher 
Ed and mother to 12-year-old twins Bailey and Holden and 8-year-old Jake.

Kirsten, age 38, was raised in Yuma, Ariz., where she lived with parents Gary and Barbara 
Pasquinelli and sisters Cyndee, Mia and Amanda before relocating to Los Angeles to attend 
Loyola Marymount University, where she earned a Master�s Degree in Education and met the 
love of her life. In 1998, she and Ed moved to San Diego, where she was soon embraced by 
those who appreciated her dazzling wit and infectious laugh, and a zest for life evidenced by 
her commitment to the Morning Creek Elementary PTA, Cub Scouts and Twins Club; Kirsten 
also shared her gifts through gourmet cooking, scrapbooking, card making and enthusiastically 
cheering on her sons on baseball and soccer fields.

An extended family-- including countless cousins, seven nieces and nephews, and the 
Sandstrom family of Big Bear Lake--and a wide circle of friends will celebrate the life of Kirsten 
with a funeral Mass at St. Gabriel�s Catholic Church on Thursday, April 1, at 10 a.m., which will 
be preceded by a 5:30 p.m. visitation and 7 p.m. wake service at the Poway-Bernardo Mortuary 
on Wednesday evening, March 31. Those who wish to honor Kirsten can do so by making a 
contribution in her name to either of the following charities: CaringBridge.org or the TGen 
Foundation (Restricted to ACC Research), 400 E. Van Buren, Suite 850, Phoenix, AZ 85004 
(online donations can be made at helpTGen.org).

The Sandstrom and Pasquinelli families are ever grateful to the angels among us, who offered 
support and cheer to Kirsten during her arduous yet graceful battle against ACC, allowing for 
special moments and memories in these past two years. We give our thanks to our Kirsten, a 
beautiful daughter of The Most High God, for her shining examples of radiant love, incredible 
courage and unending faith which comprise her legacy.