Obituary of Sarah Swisher

Sarah Sands Swisher of Cortland, NY, born January 21, 1937 in Orangeville, Pennsylvania, passed on to our heavenly father's warm embrace on January 31, 2025. Sarah was the daughter of Harry "Delmar" Sands and Gertrude Wenner Sands of Orangeville, Pennsylvania. An only child living on Ricketts Street, she attended Orangeville Public School until the 8th grade when she enrolled at Bloomsburg High School, relying on friends and relatives for rides back and forth to school. Sarah graduated in 1954 a member of the Honor Society and recipient of the Parents and Teachers Association Scholarship. Sarah received her bachelor's degree from Bloomsburg State Teacher's College, now Bloomsburg University, in 1958. The same year, she married the love of her life, William F. Swisher of Bloomsburg, and began teaching high school English in Montandon, Pennsylvania. Their first child Jeffrey was born in 1959. William and Sarah moved to Hamilton, Mt. Upton, Cincinnatus and McGraw, NY where they both enjoyed positions in the school systems. While Sarah worked and cared for three children, she also obtained her master's degree in library sciences from Syracuse University. She served as HS Media Specialist in the Cincinnatus School District for more than 20 years, where she loved the students, helping them in producing the yearbooks and guiding them in the Gifted and Talented program. Sarah enjoyed their second home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where, until recently, they spent the colder months. Sarah maintained exquisite flower gardens and golfed in leagues for many years in both New York and South Carolina. She shot a hole-in-one in her 70's. In addition to gardening and golf, Sarah and Bill enjoyed mentoring and tutoring underprivileged kids and supporting many philanthropic organizations. Her favorite was the Historic Orangeville Train Station renovation project, where she spent many hours as a child in the ticket office. Together they support scholarships at Cincinnatus High School, McGraw High School, Bloomsburg University and foundations at Syracuse University. She planted flowers wherever she found an open space that needed color, including the McGraw athletic fields. Sarah is survived by her loving husband of over 66 years, William Swisher, daughters Ann (Stan Schifilliti) Swisher and Amy (Larry Prange) Lozupone. They have 4 grandchildren, Jonathan (Holly) Swisher, Emily (Jared Davidson) Swisher, Brendan (Brittany) Lozupone and Katherine (Jack) Sawyer. Combined, they have 11 great grandchildren. Sarah is predeceased by her parents Delmar and Gertrude Sands and William and Sarah's son Jeffrey Swisher (Jean Swisher, Renee Linn). Sarah, a lifelong follower of Jesus and Member of the Homer First United Methodist Church, walked alone to Sunday School at a very young age. She made her final walk today. A celebration of life will take place on Saturday at 11am at the Homer First United Methodist Church, 16 Cayuga Street Homer. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Homer First United Methodist Church, 18 Cayuga Street, Homer, New York 13077 or to the Historic Orangeville Train Station, c/o Paul Reichart, PO Box 236, Orangeville, PA 17859. If a donation is not possible, plant a flower, whether a seed or a kind word, wherever you go. To offer online condolences, please visit www.wright-beard.