Sara Heinzeroth Chandler, excelled in sports
Sara Heinzeroth Chandler, 90, of Wilmington and Lewes, died Saturday, April 25, 2015, in her home surrounded by the adoration and love of her family.
Sally was a native Wilmingtonian and a member of The Cathedral Church of St. John all her life until its closure. She attended P.S. #30 and being a fast learner, she graduated two years ahead of her class at P.S duPont High School. It was at P.S. where she joined a service organization, Leader Corps, which began a lifelong career of helping others through various local, state and national chapters.
She met Jimmie via sports in high school, marrying in 1945, proudly becoming Mrs. James T. Chandler III. They celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary before Parkinsons cut his and their life together short. Four sons arrived two years apart before family planning was well known. In her early 30s, she took up golf to play with her husband - it wasn’t very long before she was the family pro, playing up to the week before her stroke last October.
Sally was an outstanding athlete all her life and exercised every day. She recycled everything long before it was popular. She was a member of the Wilmington Country Club, Seaview Country Club, Shawnee Country Club, and also the Lewes Yacht Club where their boat, The Sally Star, was moored. Sally had four hole-in-ones and was a fierce competitor where winning was the name of the game.
Mrs. Chandler was multi-talented playing on the Wilmington Country Club golf, squash and bowling teams for decades, but equally accomplished in the kitchen, sewing room and gardens. Her baking skills for pies, cakes and especially Christmas cookies earned universal praise. But her sewing reigned supreme, from any item of clothing for many friends and family, to any item for the home. She could and did create just about anything on her Singer or her craft bench. If she put her mind to it, it would be done and with exceptional flair.
Great pleasures in later years were cocktails on The Sally Star at 5 p.m. with her beloved Duke after a day of fishing, and family gatherings with grandchildren and great-grandchildren at Pilot Point on Lewes Beach.
Sally was predeceased by her parents, John C. and Elizabeth V. Heinzeroth; her beloved husband, James T. Chandler III; and granddaughter, Catheryn C. Chandler. She is survived by her four sons, James T. Chandler IV and his wife Mary Jo, Bruce C. Chandler and his wife Peggy, Denis L. Chandler and his partner Sebastian DiMauro, Chad H. Chandler and his wife Diane; her sister, Bette H. McCandless; and brother-in-law, Jay Chandler and his wife Charmayne. She was the proud grandmother of 14 grandchildren, Shannon C. Dietrich (Erich), Melissa C. Bilek (John), Corey Ann Siembieda (Jay), Amanda C. Calabro (Joe), Drake C. Chandler, Bonnie Lee Chandler, Anna Louise Ross Chandler, Thomas F. Chandler and his fiancée Phylicia, Kristen E. Chandler, Kelsey J. Chandler, Sara E. Chandler, Sarah H. Ferrell (Jason) and J. Alex Hendrickson (Lindsey). Sally is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren, Chandler, Theodore, Mimi, Audrey, Evelyn, Eliza, Edwin, Ally, Jayven and Keyland.
There will be a funeral service at 11 a.m., Friday May 1, at Christ Church Christiana Hundred, Buck Road, Greenville. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 30, at Chandler Fumeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Sharpley, Wilmington. Burial will be private.
Sally adored flowers so they will be welcomed at the funeral home. If preferred, contributions to the Cathedral Choir where the four boys sang for years, Cathedral Choir School of Delaware, 719 N. Shipley Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 or the P.O.P. Project (Preserving our Post Office), Greater Lewes Fund, PO Box 110, Lewes, DE 19958. Her son, Bruce, initiated the beautification project of the post office grounds in downtown Lewes.
For online condolences,
please visit
chandlerfuneralhome.com
