Jacqueline (“Jacky”) Platania, 63, daughter of the late Raymond Sanders of Stephens, passed away on Jan. 11, 2025 in Steinen, Germany. She had been battling cancer for much of her last year.
Jacky spent her life living and working in southwestern Germany, where she was born, but she celebrated her American heritage with frequent visits to her father and American cousins the past 15 years.
On early visits, Jacky and her husband Giuseppe “camped out” with her beloved dad, Ray, in the piney woods of Stephens, where she discovered a strong dislike for Georgia thunderstorms.
Soon, these trips relocated to Athens, where Jacky often conducted German cooking classes in her cousins’ kitchen. At home in Germany, Jacky created an “American Corner” that she decorated with memorabilia collected during her visits to the U.S. Jacky was always happy, kind and generous, and will be dearly missed on both continents.
She is survived by Giuseppe Platania, sons Steven and Pascal Adam, granddaughters Emilia and Lea Adam, sister Martina Salvo, brother-in-law Benedetto Salvo, and Ursula Hunger.
Her American first cousins in Georgia are Brad Sanders, Linda Sanders, Eddie Sanders, Marilyn Young, Carol Smith, Paul Sanders, Kim Sibley, David Sanders and Tim Sanders; Ken Sanders in Arkansas; and Gary Sanders in the UK.
Jacky’s funeral service took place on Jan. 31 at Saint Peter’s Church (Petruskirche) in Steinen. The family requested that, rather than flowers, donations be made to the Lorrach Animal Protection Association in Lorrach, Germany.