Kimberly Diane Sanders

Kim would share... "Let there be more joy and laughter in your living."

Obituary

She Made All Our Souls Giggle

Kimberly Diane Sanders
7/8/1961 - 11/6/2025


Kimberly Diane Sanders died unexpectedly and without warning in her sleep at home in Loomis, California the morning of November 6th. She was 64 years young. We are beyond shocked and grief stricken having lost such an amazing bright light. Kim embodied love, warmth and kindness, and saw the best in everyone she encountered. We’ve lost a soul-mate, best friend, confidant, fierce protector, wife, mom, sister, aunt, daughter, nurse, and one-of-a-kind sparkle. Kim’s contagious laugh, smile, huge heart, courageous spirit, and genuine empathy for others can never be replaced.

She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Marcus Rosenthal, sons Xander and Aiden Rosenthal of Salt Lake City, UT, mother, Carole Sanders of Hannibal, MO, sister Karen Sanders and niece Hannah Benvenuti (husband Joe) of Sacramento, CA, and brother Richard Sanders (wife Allison) and nieces and nephews Taylor Martin (husband Cody), Keilynn Elliott (husband Trey), Kylor Sanders, and Kyzer Sanders of Hannibal, MO and nearby towns.

Born in Hannibal, Missouri to Lionel Richard and Carole Joyce Sanders (Sims), Kim was the oldest of three. She loved working at her grandfather’s apple farm, Sims Fruit and Nursery and fishing on the Mississippi. Her father was instrumental in teaching her kindness and empathy. His upbringing in the small immigrant village of Ilasco, MO molded his compassion for humanity. He also instilled in her a love of gardening and appreciation of nature. Kim’s mom was instrumental in celebrating life’s precious moments, and taught her to always make every day special. Kim embodied the belief that, “We must truly cherish this moment, because we may never pass this way again.”

Kim was a Registered Nurse for over 42 years. She graduated from Northeast Missouri State in Kirksville, MO in 1983, where she also played on her college tennis team. Following graduation, she worked at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, MO until 1987. Kim relished new experiences and loved learning. This combined with a zest for travel led her to take a job as a traveling nurse. Her first assignment was in Los Banos, CA.

At Los Banos, she worked in a 9 bed ICU. From there she went to Stanford Medical Center. She would routinely work 3-4 twelve hour shifts in a row so she could travel for a week. She soaked up the sights and sounds of California, visiting Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Monterey/Carmel, Big Sur and the Mendocino coast. Kim fell in love with California, and especially the Mendocino coast, marveling at an ocean that was always changing. It was the ocean that gave her solace. It was the ocean that brought her healing and spiritual renewal. It was the ocean where she felt close to herself and close to God. Kim would share that it didn’t matter what else was going on in the world, the stresses of life, the trivialities, the waves were still crashing in Mendocino. Today, the waves are crashing in Mendocino.

In the summer of 1987, she took an assignment at the ICU at Roseville Hospital. It was here, during a co-ed softball game, that she met her soul-mate, Marcus Rosenthal, who was filling in for the normal umpire. Kim, was the first batter. As Kim tells it, the pitcher threw an illegal pitch, one that did not reach the 6’ minimum height. However, it hit the plate and Marcus called it a strike. This started a banter and verbal jousting that led Marcus to ask Kim to go on a bike ride the next day; the beginning of their 37 year love-affair.

Kim and Marcus were married in October, 1994 in a picturesque wedding on the Mendocino coast. Often, they would return there for anniversaries and get-aways. They had just celebrated their 31st anniversary there, on a magical trip visiting close friends.

After a decade of living in Roseville, CA, their family of four moved to Loomis, CA. Xander and Aiden were just five and three, and this was the house in the country that Kim always dreamed of raising them in. She wanted a more rural upbringing and lifestyle for her boys, having grown up on 40 acres in Missouri. She wanted to garden, and for the boys to be able to “dig in the dirt.” Kim dearly loved her home and property and enjoyed sharing the various trees and plants they had collected, planted, and tended over the last 20 years. Being home brought her joy, and she marveled in her blessings daily. We can still hear her saying, “How blessed we are.”

Kim was an expert nurse in her field, having done virtually every type of nursing: E/R, Life Flight, ICU, CCU, Cardiac Surgery ICU, and Conscious Sedation. She even had a 10 year period where she did anesthesia for various Sacramento plastic surgeons. She loved a challenging puzzle, and would always think ten steps ahead for the best patient outcome. A work colleague shared that Kim was the most competent, caring and compassionate nurse she had ever met. Another longtime nurse colleague shared that she and Kim had “saved hundreds of lives.”

Since 2008, Kim worked in Conscious Sedation at Kaiser Roseville as a Staff Nurse IV. She loved her job. She worked tirelessly to not only deliver the best available patient care, but to bring a cohesive and familial bond to her work family. She created countless procedures and processes that have resulted in improved patient care and patient satisfaction. Just in the last several months, Kim was recognized with two awards: the Staff Excellence Award given by her department, and the Florence Nightingale award, given by Kaiser Permanente Roseville/Folsom.

Her nomination reads:

“It is with great enthusiasm that I recommend Kimberly for the Florence Nightingale Award. Kim is an exceptional nurse whose practice embodies compassion, dedication, and excellence. She consistently puts her patients and their families first, ensuring that each individual feels supported, heard, and cared for. Kim goes above and beyond to create a positive experience for every patient who enters Procedural Sedation—not only while they are under her immediate care, but throughout their entire visit.
Kim is known for her commitment to delivering a “spa-like” experience for her patients, prioritizing comfort, reassurance, and individualized care. Her patient-focused approach is matched by her ongoing drive to elevate her clinical practice. She continually researches the latest evidence-based literature and incorporates new knowledge to provide top-tier, high-quality care.”

Kim was a courageous fighter for patient rights and delivering compassionate care - always. She was a believer in ‘death with dignity’ and fought throughout her career to always do what was right for her patients, regardless of pushback. Her work family in Procedural Sedation continues her legacy, in providing the best patient care with compassion and excellence.

Kim loved Thanksgiving and Christmas. This makes this time extra challenging for the family. She would always find a family in need, make stockings for the homeless, organize donations and make magic happen. “Be the elf,” she would always say. She loved to decorate for the season. It wasn’t uncommon for her to have six to seven different Christmas trees. She was the Christmas elf at work too, decorating her unit at Kaiser and bringing festive fun. Kim made every holiday or birthday special. She was a true expert at giving “joy snacks” and making everyone feel special.

On top of all of this, Kim had an amazing sense of humor and quick wit. Her laugh was infectious, and you could pick it out in a room full of people. Her favorite colors were turquoise and leopard. She loved theatre and musicals, travel, new experiences, and great food. A few of her favorite foods were Thai, sushi, fresh salads, figs straight from her tree, cacio e pepe pasta, yummy salsa, and vanilla everything. She was a lifelong learner who was always open to new information, and rarely let an opportunity for a new perspective pass her by. She wouldn’t let a great bargain pass her by either. Above all else, her Christian faith was her foundation, and she lived her life as an example to us all.

Family was everything to Kim. She was immensely proud of our two sons, Xander and Aiden, who are “adulting” in Utah (both following college) living their best lives. She appreciated that they were following their passions, doing work that was meaningful, and finding time to suck the marrow out of life. Kim was a big believer that if you weren’t finding meaning and passion in what you do then why do it? Her sister, Karen, was her partner in crime, and her niece, Hannah, was the daughter she never had. The three of them shared countless adventures together.

Thank you My Gorgeous for a journey of happiness, contentment and excitement over the last 37 years. I love you with every fiber of my being. Thank you for making my soul, and all our souls giggle every day.

“Your pain Is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.” -Kahlil Gibran

“Though the circumstances of human life may draw us apart, the love we have given to one another continues to spin through time and space. As life is a continuously nurturing process, so is love; and the moments we share can never be lost, erased or denied. To honor the past for the vibrancy of its life is to honor this hour and all time yet to come.” -Robert Sexton

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the former things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:4



Kim’s Memorial / Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, January 25th 2026 at 1:00 pm at the Blue Goose Event Center in downtown Loomis.


Please make donations in Kim’s name to Compassion Planet, a local non profit that empowers aged-out foster youth and youth from at-risk backgrounds to achieve independence, overcome personal obstacles, and reach their fullest potential.
www.compassionplanet.org/give

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January 6, 2026

I have known Kim since 1990, we met at work. I was instantly attracted to this smart, quick witted, artistic, detail oriented woman and wanted to be her friend. She was a great nurse and patient advocate. She had an incredible memory and could recall the most minute details of any given situation that she was in. She was funny and could make me laugh so hard I would gasp for air. Kim loved her family and friends with passion and wanted nothing but the best for them. She was a memory maker and the glue that held people together. I trusted her implicitly, I do love all the people in her life that I have been a part of. Her patients were lucky to have her as their nurse as were all the people that ever worked with her. Kim was an empathetic person to all. I would watch as strangers would just start talking to her about their lives, she had that tell me anything look about her. Kim would tell me she was an introvert and needed to reset in the haven of her beautiful home but she was the most extroverted introvert I knew. Kim was a leader that conducted her life in a spiritual manner. She had a deep commitment to do the right thing and a wanderlust that she never out grew. I will always be grateful that fate brought us together as friends and I will never stop missing you.
XOXOXO Vicki

Vicki Polster

December 22, 2025

Thank you for sharing your fond memories and pictures of Kim and her family. Kim and I were friends in grade school and Jr high. We rode the bus together, had sleep overs, camped out in her back yard. My grandparents lived right up the road from her house on Antioch gravel. I have many fond memories of Kim. Many prayers and hugs for you and your family. 💕🙏

Karen (Lee) McClain

December 21, 2025

Marcus and family, Kim was a wonderful person and will be missed. Love and prayers to all!

Rose Nemes-Oslica

December 20, 2025

Marcus,
What a beautiful tribute to Kim. (I’m sure she would approve!)
Kim was larger than life. As you wrote, she brought her infectious laughter and love of life into whatever room she entered. Although our visits were infrequent, she made each one memorable with her warmth and genuine interest in each of our lives.
Such a loss, but her light continues to brighten the universe.
Steve & I look forward to seeing you and your boys January 25.
You can rest peacefully, dear Kim knowing you are loved by so many of us.
P.S. Thanks, Marcus, for sharing your photos. They’re great!

Bob Orrizzi

December 17, 2025

Kim was an exceptional person in every aspect of her life. I feel so grateful to have called her a friend and to witness her many gifts that she generously shared with so many. My life is better for having known her.

Juli W

December 15, 2025

I miss working with you every Monday and Tuesday and I miss our friendship so much. You were so a big part of my life and knew my family like they were your family. Always cheering every accomplishment for me my daughters and my grandchildren. I’m ever so grateful you have been a part of my life for decades. You have made me a better person and you were a part of the reason I wanted to enjoy life as much as you did. You will always be in my heart and mind. I will always see your beautiful face and hear that unique laughter that was always present. Thank you my friend for enriching my life. Prayers and love always to your beautiful family. I love them all. Edie Cameto

edie cameto

December 15, 2025

Your life impacted us all. Your beauty without measure. This is a tremendous loss to humanity. I cannot even associate death with someone as beautiful as you Kim. Your place in my heart remains forever.
My love and prayers to Marcus and the boys and the rest of your family.
Your essence will forever be with us Kim girl .
Rest In God’s Eternal Peace , till we meet again my beautiful friend .❤️💔😢

Ursula Vermeulen

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