Sandra Lee Barr

Sandra(Sandy) Barr, 77, formerly of Newfield, passed peacefully on to Gods care July 3rd 2016 surrounded by her family at her home in Lakeland Florida.
Sandy was predeased by her husband,Edward Barr Jr., her parents, Fredrick and Gertrude Parker, her maternal grandparents, Myron and Gertrude Carter, her paternal grandparents, Harrison and LenaBell Parker, a brother-in-law Alan Krause, and two special aunts Harriet Christie and Ina Richie.
Sandy is survived by her son Lance and his wife Maxine Barr, grandchildren David(Angel), Michael(Amanda), Sandy(JJ), great grandchildren Jadah and Patrick, sisters, Jackie Parker Krause and Donna Parker(Jack) Hamilton, two special cuosins Jayne Christie Bolton and Gary Richie. Aunt Sissy to Brent (Janine) Krause, Darby Krause(Tony) DeChristopher, Craig(Patty), Eric(Claudia) and Jeff(Tricia) Bernheart and grand nieces and nephews, and a very special neighbor Carol Guerket, her partner in crime for over thirty years.
Sandy was born on January 25, 1939, in Pearl River N.Y. She was born on her fathers birthday. When she was 6 the family moved to Ogdensburg, N.Y.. Sandy was a member of the Odgensburg Free Academy class of 1957.
Sandy married Edward Barr Jr. and worked at the New York State Mental Hospital at Odgensburg as a nurses assistant. She would say it was most satisfying and loved every minute.
Sandy and her husband and son moved to Syracuse N.Y. in 1964 where she began her career as a secretary working in the downtown business district at the Boy Scouts of America corporate offices.
In June of 1970 the Barr family moved to Ithaca and she worked as a live in manager of Cascalaka Manor, a gentleman's boarding house, just a few blocks from the Ithaca Commons. Renting ten single rooms and weekly maintenance took most of her days. Mr Lewis Hyers and his wife Ms Peg Hyers owned the building and soon after Ms Hyers hired Sandy as her secretary and assistant at her photo studio on South Albany St.
In 1974 Sandy and her husband started a new business as Fingerlakes Typewriter Service. The boarding house basement provided the work shop area and office space. Sandy ran the store, greeting customers , answering the phone , taking service calls, deposits, invoices,ledger sheets , tax payments AND managed ten tennants.
As busy as she was Sandy found the time to march in summertime parades as part of the Enfield Volunteer Fire Fighters Womans Auxiliary. She enjoyed the craze of the CB radio and was the Lucky Lady.
In 1980 her business was renamed to Cayuga Typewriter Service. She enjoyed all the same daily activities but added typing services for college students. Long days and nights were dedicated so that a student could turn In
their term papers. Grad students would bring her , hand written papers in different colored ink and need it tomorrow! Dissertations, no broblem.
She would correct spelling, grammar, punctuation!
AND managed a 17 room house.
Mr &Ms Heyers had great confidence in her and sold her the boarding house in June of 1984.
As the eighties took hold with new technology, she sold her business to FBM Office Equipment and worked with them and enjoyed making new friends.
By 1993 it was time to take a break. Her one and only first niece came to Ithaca College. It was like a daughter come home.
That same year she was approache by the American Red Cross to help with a homeless program, using Cascadlaka Manor.
As she took a break from earlier responsibilities she was able to travel,
and enjoy her grandchildren.
In 1996 the homeless program with the American Red Cross had moved on and she returned to Cascalaka Manor and set up her own offfice and take back responsibility for renters. Sandy worked with small businesses owners wirh accounting and bookwork and worked as the secretary for the Trumansburg Colf Course with payroll, bookeeping, and keeping them on their toes.
Sandy enjoyed meeting her frienda at Carls Cafe at the Ithaca Shopping plaza and worked waiting tables for some " Travel money".
She could now make time for some of her favorite things. Knitting, sewing and needle work, all,one of a kind. As an avid reader she would read 400 pages a week and kept a binder with all the authers and titles she had read. AND her beloved bording house.
In 2004 she was awarded an award from the city of Ithaca for Pride In Ownership, for her paint and landscaping and maintenance of Cascalaka Manor.
Sandy then devoted many hours to volunteer work with the Newfield Food Pantry, the Ithaca Kitchen Cupboard and her church gift shop.
After a sudden illness in early 2014 Sandy moved to Florida to be closer to her family. On June 25 th 2016 she suffered a stroke and with help from Hospice nurses she was at home with the love and care of her family.
A celebration of Sandys life will be held at Bangs Funeral Home in Ithaca on August 10th at 11am. A reception for friends and family will be held at her boarding house, Casaclaka Manor.
The family wold like to thank the devoted staf of Hospice.
In lew of flowers please make a donation to the charity of your choice.
Sandy Barr will be remembered for her love of people and helping others.She had a great sence of humar and was fiercely independent.