Sondra (Smith) Gallis

Sondra (Smith) Gallis, age 92, passed away February 26, 2024. Sondra was born on November 25, 1931, to Abraham and Mabel Smith in New York. She attended a one room schoolhouse in Ferndale, NY, before attending Liberty High School. Sondra's parents co-owned the Upper Ferndale Country Club, which was located in the Catskill Mountains during the heyday of the vacationers in the Borscht Belt. Her life as a young woman at the hotel was similar to the movie, Dirty Dancing. She knew the dancing instructors and the recreation specialist and met many famous entertainers. Sondra met her husband Leonard "Lenny", from the Bronx, at the hotel as he worked as a waiter. They fell in love, married, and then moved to Queens, NY. There, they raised three children, Nina, Jeff, and Wendy, until the family moved to Toledo, OH. Sondra was a stay-at-home mom who put all her love into raising her children. Our mother had a wonderful gift of making all her children and grandchildren feel like they were special and was always their cheerleader. She loved sitting out by the pool and watching her family swim and had the best snacks. She was an expert Mahjong player, loved word games, Bingo and going to the casino. Our holiday meals were delicious as she was a great cook and baker. She always decorated for the holidays and her wrapping of gifts was an art. Sondra loved music and would spend hours singing with her children. Our phone calls with our mother always ended with a song.

Some would say that Sondra was a chocoholic. She had a "candy bar," as she would call it in her kitchen, and always encouraged family and friends to partake. In Kingston, she was known as the candy lady, always offering lollipops and M&Ms to the nurses and aids. She was a stoic, calm person who gave great advice and never raised her voice. She had a wonderful sense of humor, incorporating lines from old Borscht Belt comedians. In her final days, speaking very little, we asked if she was comfortable and she replied, "I make a living" that was one of her favorite lines. Sondra never had an unkind word and made people around her feel welcomed, that was a gift.

Sondra was predeceased by her late husband, Len. She is survived by her children, Nina (Marvin) Timperley, Jeffrey (Barbara) Gallis, and Wendy (Sheldon) Goldstein; grandchildren, Amy (Jason) Krumm, Brian (Susan) Yourist, Stephen Lamb, Sarah Lamb (fiancé Eric McKinney); and great-grandchildren, Mason Krumm, Andrew Krumm, Claire Yourist; and extended family.

Private services for the family only.

Contributions in Sondra's memory may be sent to Jewish Federation of Greater Toledo or Alzheimer's Association.

Arrangements by the Robert H. Wick/Wisniewski Funeral Home (419) 535-5840.

www.wickfh.com
 

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