Sandra Law Almeida

Sandra (Marie) Law Almeida, age 85, passed away peacefully on December 13, 2025, at 3:30 a.m.

Sandra was born in Dedham, Massachusetts, where she lived with her family and her great-grandfather, Samuel Law, on Sanderson Street. The family later moved to New Woodstock, New York, where she lived for eight years before settling in DeRuyter, New York, after her father purchased the newspaper The DeRuyter Gleaner. Sandra lived there until leaving for college.

She attended SUNY Oswego, where she earned a degree in early childhood education and met her future husband, Cesario Almeida. In 1964, Sandra moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she lived until 1989. After returning to the United States, she made her home in Webster, New York.

Throughout her life, Sandra worked a variety of jobs, including teaching, working in daycare, a deli, as a fire watch at a nuclear power plant, and later as a case manager at the Rochester Epilepsy Foundation. Her work reflected her compassionate nature and dedication to helping others.

Sandra loved reading and movies and enjoyed television shows such as Matlock, Doc Martin and Murder, She Wrote. She found joy in nature, watching birds, visiting museums, thrifting, and sharing humorous stories from her years living in Brazil, often over donuts, iced coffee, and Chick-fil-A. She was a gentle soul: patient, generous, and kind.

From her Swedish heritage to a lifetime shaped by living in Brazil, Sandra lived a full life rich with adventure, meaningful experiences, and cherished memories.

Sandra is survived by her sons, Carlos Almeida (Judith Almeida), Paulo Almeida (Graca Almeida), and Marco Almeida; her daughter, Elizabeth Almeida; her brother, David Law; her grandchildren, Camila Greenhalgh (John Greenhalgh), Kevin Law Almeida de Carvalho (Crislayne Lima), Alexander Almeida, Adriano Almeida, and Nicolas Almeida; and her great-grandchildren, Henry Greenhalgh, Theo Greenhalgh, and Elise Greenhalgh. She is also lovingly remembered by her former daughter-in-law, Siboniso Almeida (children, Raymond and Samantha).

She was preceded in death by her sister, Barbara Ward; her brother, Gordon Theodore Law Jr.; and her beloved cat, Chubby, and dog, Cujo.