Sandra "Sondra" Trager

1938 - 2025

Sandra "Sondra" Trager
Born: July 28, 1938 in Ottawa, IL
Died: February 26, 2025 in Marseilles, IL
Sandra (Sondra) Trager, 86, a life-long resident of Marseilles, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, February 26, at her home, with her loving and grateful family by her side. Her wish was to pass away at home with her children beside her, and God graciously granted her prayers.
Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on March 3, 2025, at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 11:00 am, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with Father Ryan Mattingly officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Marseilles, and a luncheon will be held at the Marseilles Lions Club after the burial.
Sandra was born July 28, 1938, in Ottawa, Illinois, to her loving parents, Louis and Theresa (Bolatto) Faletto. Her grandmother Bolatto lived with her and her parents, and Sandra had a wonderfully close relationship with her. Her parents called her Sondra, as did many of her relatives and friends. To some she was affectionately known as "Son" and to others as "Sandy."
She graduated from Marseilles High School in 1956 and twirled her baton as the drum majorette of the marching band. She was voted Most Athletic of her graduating class and was known to still do the splits at age 70, which mortified her husband and children but delighted her grandchildren.
After graduating high school, she enrolled in and completed the three-year nursing program at St. Joseph's College of Nursing in Joliet, Illinois, where she earned her RN degree. Sandra's nursing experience throughout her long career was quite diverse. After graduating, she was employed as an industrial nurse at Libbey-Owens-Ford. She also worked at the Ryburn Memorial Hospital in Ottawa as an OB nurse. She then spent several years at Ottawa General Hospital and Arthritis Sanatorium and took care of people from all over the country who came for help. Sandra was also a LaSalle County Public Health Nurse and then eventually retired from the Marseilles Nursing Service.
In 1961, Sandra married her high-school sweetheart, Jim Trager. Together, they raised three children and were blessed with seven grandchildren and two great-grandsons. They were married for fifty-six years and created a beautiful life together, which was built on a foundation of love, hard work, and strong family values. They weathered many storms together, including some health issues later in life and a flood in 2013 that resulted in a total rebuild of the inside of their home, but their bond remained unbroken. They taught their children and grandchildren so many important life lessons, but perhaps their most valuable gifts were their unwavering love and devotion to their family that will be felt forever.
Not only did Sandra work professionally as a nurse, but she also helped to take care of many relatives through the years, including her Grandma Bolatto and Grandma Faletto, her mother and father, her mother-in-law, Estaline Trager, and her Uncle Jimmy Bolatto. They were all so lucky to experience her devotion as they all got older and needed her help. Kids in the neighborhood often came to her to fix their bumps and bruises. She truly was a natural-born care-giver.
As a true Italian mother and grandmother, she always worried about making sure that everyone was well-fed. One of her famous lines was "You gotta eat." Even on the last day of her life, she told her family to make sure to eat. Again, she always wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of.
Sandra loved fiercely. She may have worried continually about her family and friends' well-being, but she really just wanted everyone to be safe and happy. She was a selfless woman who put everyone else's needs before her own, and her unconditional love was there until the very end of her life. During the last week of her life, she felt that love back when so many of her friends and family were able to visit her and reminisce and share memories. Those visits were so appreciated by her and her family.
Although Sandra was an only child, she considered her sisters-in-law, Jackie Johnson and Kathy Trager, as well as her brothers-in-law, Ronald Johnson and Doug Trager, as her siblings. She loved them all like sisters and brothers and was very grateful for them. She also shared many special bonds with her numerous Bolatto and Faletto first cousins.
Sandra was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Marseilles. An avid reader, she also enjoyed playing cards, which earned her the nickname "Charm" by her father-in-law for her luck. In addition, she and Jim enjoyed trips to Florida with family and friends, and she loved making trips to the nail salon with friends.
The loss of Sandra will be deeply felt by her family and by many in the community of Marseilles.
Sandra is survived by her three children, Marcia (Steve) Machetta of Morris, Laurie Trager of Marseilles, and Shane (Jodi) Trager of Seneca; seven grandchildren, Michael and Marc (Britney) Machetta, Anthony Caselli, Lesley (Jimmy) Hart, Jaret (Heather) Trager, and Mya and Sydnie Trager; two great-grandchildren, Jaxon Anthony Hart and Benjamin James Trager; sister-in-law, Jackie Johnson of Marseilles; brother-in-law, Doug (Kathy) Trager of Ottawa; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James H. Trager, her parents, Louis and Theresa Faletto, her in-laws, Jack and Estaline Trager, and a brother-in-law, Ronald Johnson.
Her family wishes to thank Ashley Barnes-Underwood, who provided excellent and loving care for their mother the last week of her life. They are all deeply grateful to her. A special thanks to Heather Trager and Theresa Dekreon who also helped to take care of Sandra.
Pallbearers will be Anthony Caselli, Jaret Trager, Michael and Marc Machetta, Jimmy Hart, Jeff Johnson, and Ron Johnson.
Please consider a donation to the Marseilles Nursing Service in Sandra's name.
Seals-Campbell Funeral Home
1009 E. Bluff St., Marseilles, IL 61341
815-795-5151 www.sealscampbell.com