Obituary of Sandra J. VanVorst

Rensselaer- Sandra “Sandy” J. VanVorst, 76, passed away peacefully in her home on November 3, 2023. 

Sandy was born on January 7, 1947, in Albany, NY, to the late Earl T. LaMay and Jennie M. Sterling.  She was the oldest of four children, with two surviving siblings: Earl (Kathy) T. LaMay, Gary LaMay, and one predeceased sibling, Paul T. LaMay. 

Sandy married William (Bill) C. VanVorst Sr. in 1991.  She had three sons from a previous marriage and one stepson.  She is survived by two of her children, Paul (Kelly) Thomas and Jeffrey Thomas Sr., and her stepson, William C. VanVorst, Jr.  She is predeceased by her eldest son, Edwin E. (Lauren) Thomas, Jr.  She leaves behind four grandchildren, Jeffery Jr., Tyler, Landon, and Jonathan, and two great-grandchildren, Theodore Edwin “Teddy Eddy” and Grayson.  She also leaves behind numerous close cousins, nieces, and nephews, as well as her best friend, Patricia Whitbeck, and is predeceased by her other best friend, Sandra Tesch. 

Sandy always lived life to the fullest while enjoying visits with her family, gardening, and especially crafting.  She was an avid wreath maker, card maker, and scrapbooker.  She had a wonderful talent for making personalized blankets and gifting them to her loved ones.  Sandy had a beautiful purse collection and adored elephants, as anyone who visited her would know with her enormous amount of collectible elephants.  She loved to spend time outside and often referred to herself as a sun goddess. 

Sandy was an excellent cook and was world-famous for her Golumpki.  She had a fierce sense of humor, which she kindly passed down to her children and grandchildren. 

She was a manager at Caswell-Massey for many years and was an incredible crowd-drawing bartender, but the job she always said she loved most was being a grandmother and great-grandmother.  She will be terribly missed. 

Funeral will be from the W.J. Lyons, Jr. Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Avenue Rensselaer Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 6pm.  Relatives and friends are invited and may call prior to the service from 4-6pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Elephant Sanctuary, 27 East Main Street Hohenwald, TN 38462 or The Community Hospice 445 New Karner Road, Albany NY, 12205.