It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Sandra Saxe on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. She was surrounded by her beloved husband of 61 years and their three children. She was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Dempsey. She was born on April 27, 1943, in Sayre, Pa. She grew up in the village of Sugar Hill (Mildred), graduating from Turnpike High School, where she met her husband, Michael Saxe. They were married in the St. Basil’s Church in September of 1964.
She worked at an insurance firm in New Jersey, and later at the Department of Highways in Montoursville. Sandra then devoted her life to taking care of her three children, her three beloved grandchildren, her husband, their dogs and their beautiful farm and campground. She would pride herself in helping the guys on the farm, bringing them water when they were working in the fields in the heat of summer and helping the campers get set up for fishing on the holiday weekends.
Sandra was full of life and could talk to anyone and everyone. She was kind and generous and a faithful, devoted Catholic, a member of the St. Basil’s Church her entire life. She also loved the Russian Orthodox Church, where her mother, mother-in-law and various aunts and uncles were members, including her uncle The Very Rev. Archpriest Paul P. Borick, and her beloved aunt Matuska Irene Borick.
She was known for her deep blue eyes, her beautiful smile that could light up a room, and her warm and fun-loving personality. She loved her dogs and took care of every single one of them including her beloved Cooper. Sandra was a tireless housekeeper and famous for both her delicious cooking and her amazing ironing abilities. She was known for making many delicious Russian and Polish dishes during the Holiday season.
She loved both polkas and country music, going to many concerts with her kids. She was the best grandmother to her three grandchildren, who affectionately called her “Meme”, a name that stayed with her throughout her life. She was an SCHS basketball fan watching all the games that her grandson John played in both high school and later in college. She enjoyed traveling in the early days of her life to exotic places like Venezuela, Costa Rica, Jamacia and even Poland (where she even hiked up the mountains of Zakopane!). She would travel to NYC, Kansas City, Nashville and various other cities on fun road-trip adventures and was always ready to babysit at a moment’s notice. She loved taking Camille and Zoe to school and their many extracurricular activities and cooking amazing dinners and desserts for them.
She loved being in her home and enjoying the surrounding countryside of her farm, the sunsets over the pond, the flowers in her back yard and the wildlife that roamed the fields behind her house. She was always surrounded by flowers, and photos of her loved ones.
Sandra is survived by her husband Michael Saxe of Dushore, Pa., her daughter, Michelle (Greg) Ryan of Larchmont, N.Y., her son, Michael (Robin Fiester) Saxe of Dushore, Pa. and daughter, Mary Saxe of Landsdale, Pa.; three grandchildren, John Saxe, Camille Ryan, and Zoe Ryan; two beloved dogs, Cooper and Gretta; and a host of relatives and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Mary Dempsey, her sister Judy Dempsey Mills and many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins including Jack “Jackie” Borick who grew up spending many years on the farm with her. She leaves behind a legacy of love of family, faith in God, a strong work ethic and a life lived to the fullest.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, December 6, 2025, at St. Basil’s Church, 101 Churchill St., Dushore, with Rev. Burt Kozen officiating. Burial will follow in St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Cemetery, Lopez. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, December 5, 2025, at McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home, 119 Carpenter St., Dushore.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at mccartythomas.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at http://www.stjude.org in memory of Sandra.
May Sandra’s gentle soul rest in peace and may her memory live eternal and be a blessing to all who knew and loved her.
