Sandra M. Ferro

Sandra M Ferro
October 18, 1938 – February 18, 2024

On Sunday, February 18, 2024, Sandra M. Ferro, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully [at the age of 85] in Jacksonville, FL. Sandy was born in Troy, NY, on October 18, 1938 to the late John and Anna Farnam Nielsen. Sandy will be remembered by many for her fierce independence, impeccable style and generous heart.

One of thirteen children, Sandy spent some of her earliest years on the family farm, which instilled a no-nonsense attitude about hard work and where she no doubt developed her lifelong love of animals and the outdoors. She played field hockey at, and graduated from, Troy High School.

In her early adult years, a handsome Navy veteran named Aurther G. Ferro fell hard for the beautiful, young cashier working in his store. After a brief courtship, Sandy and Art were married in 1956 and blessed with five children. As a young wife, she navigated the challenges of combining her Irish sensibilities with Art's Italian passions, all while managing a rambunctious household and developing a keen interest in cooking. Throughout her life, she delighted in welcoming friends and family to her table, and stray kittens into her home.

After her husband passed in [1992], she embraced her next chapter. She continued working, ultimately retiring from GHI Dental in Albany, New York. Never one to shy away from giving her opinion, Sandy was a trusted friend to many who valued her counsel. In her free time, she enjoyed the theater, shopping and social outings with friends, trips to New York City, visits with her family, and doting on her nieces and nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandson.

A city gal through and through, she never lost her fondness for the outdoors and her family and friends have many fond memories of times spent at the family camp on Great Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondacks. She lived independently in Schenectady, NY, until a recent move to warmer weather in Jacksonville, FL, where she lived with her son Neal and his wife Gloria and a growing flock of kittens.

Sandy was a great friend, a fashionista, and a force to be reckoned with – all qualities she embodied until her final days.

Sandra was preceded in death by her husband Aurther G. Ferro, son Aurther D. Ferro, parents John and Anna Farnam Nielsen, brothers Robert, John, Raymond, Leon and Gilbert Nielsen, sisters Shirley Czarnecki, Elnora and Aurelia Nielsen, Alma Messier, Jean Brown and Phyllis Bourassa, and granddaughter Suzanne Hurst.

She is survived by her sister Karen Kerr, children Neal (Gloria), Michael, Susan Reyell and Elizabeth Kepner (Kevin), grandchildren Jeffery Hurst, Adrienne Kepner Trantum (Josh) and Matther Kepner, great grandson Christopher Hurst, and many members of her extended family, friends, and her beloved kitties.

A memorial service will take place on Thursday, February 22 at 3 p.m. at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions, Orlando, 895 S Goldenrod Rd, Orlando, FL 32822, followed by a graveside memorial on Saturday, March 2 at 10 a.m., before she is laid to rest beside her husband at St. John the Baptist Cemetery, N Brandywine Ave, Schenectady, NY 12306.

Sandy spent her last weeks under the compassionate care of Community Hospice & Palliative Care in Jacksonville, Florida. Please consider a donation in her memory. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Community Hospice & Palliative Care (4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257, or give online at https://thefoundationcares.org/give/) or in recognition of her love of animals, to the Schenectady County SPCA (Schenectady County SPCA, P.O. Box 9516, Niskayuna, New York 12309, or online https://countyspca.com/donate/).