Sandra Sue Rausa

Sandy Rausa, 86, of DeRuyter Lake, NY and formerly of Cincinnatus, NY, passed away on Saturday February 10, 2024, at her home, with family.  

Sandy was born in Oneida, NY, on May 27, 1937, the daughter of the late Sidney and Agnes Kallet.  Sandy was a treasured school teacher for 33 years. While she taught Home Economics, she was most known for her care to so many of the students at the Cincinnatus Central School.  She made herself available to students who needed her any day or night.  

Sandy was very involved in her community.  She sat on the Cincinnatus School Board of Education for 9 years and the BOCES Board of Education for many additional years.   She served as the Town Justice for Cincinnatus for several years when her children were in high school and college.  

Sandy was well known for her culinary skills and upon retirement she found a way to cook for many people at once by launching Catering by Sandy.  She spent many summer days at the Knickerbocker Golf Club (KCC) where she worked alongside her close friends making golf tournament dinners special and enjoyed every Friday night with friends at KCC. 

Sandy is survived by her daughters Julie (Robert) Sickle of St. Leonard, MD and Nicole (Jerry) Rice of DeRuyter, NY.  She also leaves behind grandchildren, Megan (Justin) Rollins of St. Leonard, MD, Samantha (Adrian Montalvo) Sickle of Prince Frederick, MD, Jordan Rice of San Diego, CA and Joely Rice of Los Angeles, CA, who loved spending time at Grandma and Grandpa’s house; great-grandchildren, Moses, Avery and Elijah; brother Peter Kallet of Fort Meyers, FL, and several nieces and nephews. 

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Tom Rausa, on February 16, 2022 and a brother James Kallet who also passed away in 2024.  

Funeral services will be held at the K. L. Sharp Funeral Home, Cincinnatus, NY on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. with her daughter, Julie Sickle, officiating.  Burial will be in the Cincinnatus Cemetery at a later date. The family will be present to receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until the start of the service at 1:00 p.m.  Expressions of sympathy in the memory of Sandra Rausa may be directed to the Cincinnatus Education Association, c/o Linda Laudig, 2809 Cincinnatus Road, Cincinnatus, NY 13040.