Sandra Jane (Dunlap) Saeger

Sandra Jane Saeger (nee Dunlap, Holobar, Kurhan) died in Erie, PA on May 21st from complications of a stroke, after bipolar disorder, Parkinson’s disease, a broken hip and Covid all took their swings and whiffed, and long after she outlived all the men. Hers was a life well lived.

She was born to Elizabeth Dunlap on July 9, 1942 and raised by Elizabeth and Homer Dunlap in Linesville, Pennsylvania, the oldest daughter in a family that became far too big. She was proud to be selected after high school to work in Washington, DC as a secretary in the Defense Department, and later moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut with her husband Joseph Holobar, a good man and her high-school sweetheart, and their young son. After that first marriage, Sandy found herself the very, very slightly older sister to the local high school girls she hired as babysitters and they, and their families, quickly became part of her family. And Sandy also found herself the very, very much younger daughter of her retired Avon customers who also became family. Sandy made friends often and easily, and, somehow, they always became family.

In Bridgeport, Sandy also met the father of her second son, Donald Kurhan, who, like her, was maybe a little too good-looking and charming for his own good. When stars collided as they sometimes do, Sandy left Connecticut with her two sons to live closer to her family in Cochranton, PA, a lovely town with, at the time, no good pizza. She then moved to Meadville and, eventually, Conneaut Lake to remedy that. The quest continues.

In later years, Sandy married Earl Saeger, a hard-working man who provided. Sandy was a partner in his business and his life, proved remarkably capable at both, and, as always, bandaged wounds.

Like everyone, Sandy had her share of trouble and, on those rare occasions when no trouble was to be found, she made her own just to keep things interesting. Dull was unacceptable and laughter essential. The woman had a wicked sense of humor. But through most of her life, no matter her circumstances or yours, there was always a place at her table, a spare bed, a sympathetic ear. She kept a generous heart.

Sandy is pre-deceased by her parents Elizabeth and Homer Dunlap, siblings Charlotte, John and Louise, several husbands, lots of pets, and survived by her sisters and brothers, Karen, Charles, Janice, Neva, and Daryl, many nieces and nephews, her sons Chris and Don, and by her beloved grandchildren Addy, Krista and Nathaniel, who haven’t heard anything yet because, kids, we’ve got stories. And by the many people whose lives she touched, hopefully, in a good way (if you got on her wrong side, wow, sorry), too many to be listed here.

We want to express our appreciation to the Hamot ICU team and to Rolling Fields of Conneautville, PA, for their compassionate care over the last few weeks and many years.  A celebration of Sandy’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 3rd at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Meadville, but, to honor Sandy, please pick up a stray. Dog, cat, a neighbor you haven’t talked to in awhile, a kid with a single mom who just moved in across the street. Keep a generous heart.