Sandra M. Sutaris

Sandra M. Sutaris, age 79, of Toms River, NJ, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2023, from a heart devoted to her family and filled with love. Sandra was born in Newark, NJ, on December 5, 1943, to Edward and Rosemary Zawora.

Sandra grew up in Newark and graduated from East Side High School in 1961. After high school she began working at Federal Pacific and dating the love of her life, Joseph. They wed in 1964 and had three children, JoAnn, Joseph, and Thomas. In 1969, they opted to leave the city and move to the Jersey Shore area. They moved to Bayville for a few years and then settled in Beachwood, NJ, in 1972 to raise their family.

Sandra enjoyed being a homemaker and raising her children. She was a strong advocate that children should be kept busy with activities to keep them out of trouble. If she wasn’t in the car playing chauffeur, she was on the sidelines at the soccer field, in the stands at the baseball or softball diamond, or at the football stadium cheering her kids on.

In the late 70’s, Sandra decided to re-enter the workforce as a bank teller. She was employed by Citi Federal Savings and ended her career in the late 90’s with OceanFirst Bank. While employed, she was able to contribute to her family’s well-being and financial security. During that time, her family was able to take vacations, put a swimming pool in the backyard, and most important to her, her three children were able to obtain college degrees. She was immensely proud of this fact. Upon retirement, Sandra and her husband became snowbirds and escaped to Florida in the winters. They thoroughly enjoyed their retirement for over two decades including traveling and spending time with friends.

Sandra gave unselfishly to her family and friends. She often said towards the end of her life: “I raised three good kids and have five wonderful grandchildren.” She thought of that as her greatest accomplishment in life.

Sandra was predeceased by her parents Edward Zawora and Rosemary (nee Carmody) Zawora, her beloved sister and best friend, Carol Ihrig, and her brother-in-law, Conrad Ihrig. She is survived by her husband of almost 59 years, Joseph Sutaris; her three children JoAnn Sutaris-Tilton and her husband Paul, Joseph Sutaris and his wife Sarah, and Thomas Sutaris and his wife Susan; and five grandchildren Brooke Sutaris and Brett Sutaris and their mother Donna Sutaris, Mackenzie Sutaris, Cody Sutaris and Kira Tilton She also leaves behind her brother Edward and his wife Carole, and her beloved nieces Denise Ihrig-Hernandez, Michele Ihrig Salvia, Chrissy Zawora Fick and nephew Edward Zawora in addition to numerous great nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Sandra will be held on Friday, January 13, 2023, from 4 to 7 and a service will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 10 am at Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main Street, Toms River, followed by a burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Cedar Grove Road, Toms River. A celebration of life will follow the burial around noon at Artisan’s Restaurant, Hooper Avenue, Toms River. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a contribution be made in memory of Sandra to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.