Sandra O'Keefe's Obituary
Sandra O’Keefe, born Augusta Sandra Parise, departed this physical life on March 11, 2021 at the age of 75.
Sandra was born and raised in Lawrence, MA to second generation Italians, Sarah Cottone and John Parise. She has an older sister, Joanne Thompson (of Tucson), and is pre-deceased by her younger brother, Anthony Parise.
Sandra attended Lawrence High School, where her fondest memory was the Friday night dances at Central Catholic. She’d often recall how her small pack of friends kept one another safe and happy growing up in a working class environment. Among that group, she met her future husband, Alfredo Saraceno Jr. The teenage sweethearts eventually married in 1966 at Holy Rosary Church in Lawrence. They had two sons, Scott Saraceno (of San Francisco) and Steven Saraceno (of North Andover).
Post-graduation, Sandra worked in the medical records department at Lawrence General Hospital where, under the tutelage of Ida Duffy, she started her long career in the medical profession.
In the 1980s, Sandra entered a new chapter when she dated and married Dr. Dennis D. O’Keefe (of Hamilton) while working in the ER admitting at Lawrence General Hospital. Dennis and his three children, introduced Sandra and her boys to a new world of travel, horse jumping, skiing and summer trips to Maine.
Her joyful nature complemented Dennis’s generous spirit and the couple formed a home that became the epicenter for extended family gatherings – be it for therapy sessions around the kitchen table or celebrations around the pool.
Sandra became a grandmother to Nathan, Jeremy and Noah by her son Steven, and most recently a great-grandmother to Olivia. She nurtured her grandchildren with the same wisdom, respect and unconditional love she imparted to her own boys.
In the early 2000s she relocated to the warmth of Tucson, Arizona, where she became neighbors with her sister. She adored having her morning coffee looking out at the Santa Catalina Mountains, hiking the nature trails, gambling at the casinos and enjoying a good cocktail with her gang. Never without a canine companion, she shared her desert home first with Zoe and later with Mitzee, who was by her side in her final days.
While living in Arizona, Sandra would frequent California while visiting her son, Scott and his partner Fred, as well as the multitude of new friends who got to know and adore her.
In the last chapter of her life, Sandra returned to her place of origin in Massachusetts. It was here that she sought the comfort and care that she needed from her son Steven and his wife Dalia, along with her life-long friends and family.
Sandra met formidable challenges with strength. Humor and gratitude became her compass. Her effervescence was infectious and she never missed an opportunity to dance or to swim in the ocean. These were her cherished sources of joy.
Sandra was the light of so many lives that will need to live on without her. She will be deeply missed by her Italian cousins who she considered sisters, her “bonus children” Aleen and Kirk Saraceno, nieces, nephews and so many cherished friends. She will forever live in our hearts.
The family extends a heartfelt “thank you” to all the caregivers and medical professionals who helped with Sandra’s care during her illness.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 19, 2021 at 1:00PM at Saint Michael’s Parish, 196 Main St, North Andover, MA. Those wishing to attend may go directly to the church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl. Memphis, TN 38105 or other cancer research organization.
Celebrations of life will take place at future dates, where her ashes will be scattered in the Atlantic and Pacific.
What’s your fondest memory of Sandra?
What’s a lesson you learned from Sandra?
Share a story where Sandra's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Sandra you’ll never forget.
How did Sandra make you smile?