Sandra L. Surma

1943 - 2025

Sandra L. Surma (Dopieralski) of Rolling Prairie, Indiana, left this earth to be with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in heaven on Feb. 3, 2025, after a very long battle with stage five kidney disease.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at Holy Family Parish, Sacred Heart Church, 201 Bach Street, La Porte, Indiana, with Reverend Ian Williams officiating. Burial will follow at St. John Kanty Cemetery, Rolling Prairie, Indiana.

Family and friends may gather on Saturday prior to the Mass at 9 a.m., at Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at Frank L Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel, 1117 Indiana Avenue, La Porte, Indiana.

A rosary will be recited at 6:30 the evening of visitation.

Sandra was born Aug. 9, 1943, in La Porte, Indiana, to the late Stanley and Marian Dopieralski. She married David E Surma on June 15, 1963, at St. John Kanty Catholic Church in Rolling Prairie, Indiana. They celebrated 61 ½ years of wedded bliss. Sandra was the fifth of six children of Stanley and Marian Dopieralski. She grew up near Hudson Lake, Indiana. She graduated from New Carlisle High School in 1961.

She was a member of St. John Kanty Catholic Church where she was a member of the Rosary Society, taught religion class and worked on many projects with the various priests. In 1969 they moved to Rolling Prairie and became members of Holy Family Catholic Parish, Sacred Heart Church in La Porte, Indiana, where she served a term on the Parish Council, and worked on Christmas and Easter projects.

Besides her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she cherished her Catholic faith the most. When the kids were growing up she was very active in the Rolling Prairie Little League and ran the concession stand and fundraisers for many years.

She was part owner and secretary/treasurer of Dipsi Doodle Disposal and Pyramid Equipment where she retired from in 2022.

She is survived by her husband, David; her sons, Anthony (Krissy Bogar) and Chris (Jeri Shaw), and daughter, Amy Wolfe, all of Rolling Prairie, Indiana, and her son, Jon-Paul (Amy Wall); her grandchildren, Taylor and Jared Emmons of Rolling Prairie, Indiana, Allison and Adam Snider of Carol Stream, Illinois, Alexis and Christian Surma, Meagan Surma and Lauren Wolfe, all from Rolling Prairie, Indiana, and Asher and Ava Lee (who is named after Sandra) of Granger, Indiana; and her great-grandkids, Claire, Addisyn and Piper Emmons of Rolling Prairie, and Owen Sinder of Carol Stream, Illinois. She was called Nana by all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by her brother, Stanley Junior (Yvonne) Dopieralski of New Carlisle, Indiana; her brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and DeVia Surma of Weatherby Lake, Missouri; many cousins, nieces and nephews; and her best friend, Carol Sikora of Rolling Prairie, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her mother and father-in-law, Emil and Marie Surma; her sisters, Beverly DeGraf and Karen Lowery; her brothers, Steven and Donald (Porky) Dopieralski; her son-in-law, Mike Wolfe (Amy); her "sister from another mother," Debra Yeager; and her other best friend and cousin, Jackie Redman.

In lieu of flowers contributions, can be made to Holy Family Parish, La Porte, Indiana, the Association of the Miraculous Medal, Perryville, Missouri, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

To light a virtual candle, share a story of Sandra's life or leave a message of comfort for her family, please visit esslingfuneralhome.com.