Our sweet Mom and Nana, Sondra “Sandy” Sue (Reffner) Spalla, went to live an eternity with Jesus on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. True to who she was, she fought with the same strength, grace, and determination that defined her life ~ just as she had for the past five years while battling pancreatic cancer. Through 122 rounds of chemotherapy, she never lost her spirit or her deep love for life.
A daughter of Ivan Odell and FredaRicka (Engle) Reffner, she was born June 1, 1945, in Johnstown. After graduating high school, she started a family and moved to Indiana. She worked as an office manager for Aramark, where she was admired for her work ethic, kindness, and dedication for 26 years.
She is survived by two daughters: Renee Spalla, of Indiana and Paulette Weinheimer and husband Darren, of Binghamton, NY; four grandchildren: Cody Marshall, Alexandria Lazor and husband Travis, Jacob Weinheimer and Madison Weinheimer; four great grandchildren: Weslyn, Remi, Fitzgerald and Barron.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her loyal companion, Ted “Teddy,” her beloved dog of fifteen and a half years.
In honor of Sandy’s courageous battle, the family invites guests to wear a pop of purple to the service ~ the color of hope and awareness for pancreatic cancer ~ as we celebrate her remarkable life and enduring spirit.
Her favorite song, “Dance Me to the End of Love,” became her quiet anthem, a reminder that even during the hardest times, loves endures. She danced through this journey with her loving family, her greatest joy and reason to keep fighting and many friends she met along the way. This song she loved is about dancing with the people you have made deep connections with, in an effort to gracefully get through life struggles. We thank you all for dancing with her.
“Forever in our hearts, until we dance again”
Friends and family will be received from 11 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 12 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 at Grace Church, 50 S. 7th Street, Indiana, with Pastor Bill Blair officiating. Robinson-Lytle-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 36 N 7th Street, Indiana, has been entrusted with the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests memorial contributions be made to PanCAN, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Ste. 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or https://pancan.org/facing-pancreatic-cancer/patient-services/contact-us/
To view the online obituary, sign the guest registry or send condolences, please visit
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