Sandra J. Terrance

AKWESASNE – Mrs. Sandra J. Terrance, 80, of 30 Herne Road, peacefully passed away Sunday morning, November 6, 2016 at Massena Memorial Hospital.

Sandra was born January 21,1936 in Buffalo, the daughter of the late Thomas Twinleaf and Jessie C. White Diebow. She attended schools in Buffalo and at St. Joseph’s Academy. She later achieved her GED and attended Mater Dei College. On January 30, 1954, she married Phillip B. Terrance at St. Regis Catholic Church with Rev. Michael Jacobs, officiating. Phillip predeceased her on January 1, 1970.

Sandra first worked Harvey and Carey Drug Store and McDole’s Restaurant in Buffalo. She later worked for Utica Cleaning in Rochester. In 1971, she opened the Pines Inn operating that until 1979. Sandra also operated a dairy farm and sold “goodies” from her patio Snack Bar. In 1993, Sandra and her mother, Jessie, started Twinleaf Gas and Tobacco. She also drove school bus for Massena Central School and sold AVON for many years. Sandra truly loved cooking and the work she did in the restaurants – this allowed her to socialize with everyone, which she truly loved to do. She loved to entertain house guests and family with fabulous meals. She loved to travel spending time in the Adirondacks and other mountainous areas with her close friends. Her traveling also brought her on a 10,000 mile road trip from California to New Brunswick with many stops in between. She also enjoyed boating, fishing, swimming, dancing and singing. In addition, Sandra was very musically inclined, she could play the piano, organ, and the accordion quite proficiently. Sandra was a member of the St. Regis Mohawk Senior Citizen and the Akwesasne Death Benefits Group.

Sandra is survived by her loving daughter and caregiver, Jessica Terrance Garrow and her husband, Dewey of Akwesasne; and her son, Phillip Terrance of Akwesane; two daughter-in-laws, Tina Terrance of Akwesane and Mary Papineau of St. Regis; 14 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren; her aunts, Dulcie Bradley of Akwesasne and Bea White of Cornwall Island; her best friends, Beatrice White, Edith Ripkey, Isabelle Williams, and Loretta Paolini, and many cousins.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Sandra was predeceased by her companion of 23 years, Angus J. Peters on June 23, 2003; her son, Scott C. Terrance on August 8, 2006; her daughter, Cindy “Cindy Bear” Smoke on February 12, 2011; two grandchildren, Phillip Terrance, Jr. and Shawn Sharrow; and a great grandson, Richard Oakes, Jr.

Friends may call at her home beginning 4:00 PM Tuesday until 1:00 PM Thursday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday 2:00 PM at St. Regis Catholic Church with Rev. Jerome Pastores, celebrating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in her memory may be made to the Akwesasne Diabetic Center of Excellence, the American Heart Association, or the Akwesasne Death Benefits Group.