Sandra L. “Sandy” (Saccamozzone) DiGello, age 81, formerly of Harborcreek, passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, in Bradenton, Florida. True to her independent spirit, Sandy passed away on her own terms—playing online poker, drinking coffee, and smoking cigarettes.
Born on July 13, 1944, in Erie, Pennsylvania, Sandy was the daughter of the late Dominic Saccamozzone and Anna (Sanfrotello) Vella. She grew up in North East, Pennsylvania, surrounded by her large Italian family and lifelong friends, many of whom she graduated with from St. Gregory High School.
In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, Sandy spent many years working at Loblaws, first in North East and later in Harborcreek until the stores closed. She also spent many springs tying vines in the vineyards she and her husband, Tony, owned in Ripley, New York, and Harborcreek, Pennsylvania. After retiring full-time to Bradenton, Sandy embraced life in the Bayshore community. She volunteered on community committees, participated in fundraising events, and enjoyed attending water aerobics classes.
Sandy’s greatest joy was spending time with family and friends, most often around a card table or sharing a meal. She had a remarkable gift for finding the good in everyone and never met a stranger she couldn’t befriend. Though small in stature, she had an outsized personality. She was entertaining without ever trying to be, bringing laughter and light simply by being herself. Her expressions, impeccable timing, unfiltered honesty, and genuine warmth made her unforgettable. Sandy had a way of making every gathering more memorable, and the stories about her—the funny ones, the heartfelt ones, and the ones that make you smile before they’re even told—will be shared for generations. Whether she realized it or not, Sandy was often the main character in every story simply because of the joy she brought to those around her. She left an enduring mark on everyone fortunate enough to know her.
In addition to her parents, Sandy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Anthony “Tony” DiGello; her brothers-in-law, James, William, and Edward DiGello; her sister-in-law, Denise DiGello; her nephew, Michael Saccamozzone; and her cherished “gumbadis,” Hooks and June Triana.
Sandy is survived by her daughter, Michele (Eric) DiGello of Atlanta, Georgia; her son, Frank DiGello of Bradenton, Florida; her brother, Michael (Nicky) Saccamozzone of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; her sisters, Cynthia (Marshall) Tolley, Linda Saccamozzone, and Nancy (Dennis) Tobin, all of Erie, Pennsylvania; her sisters- and brothers-in-law, Patricia (Dave) Piskorski of Newport News, Virginia, Dennis (Ginny) DiGello, Jeffrey (Vicki) DiGello, and Lisa DiGello, all of Erie; her wonderful Bradenton neighbors and friends, Mike and Jane Bengston of Bloomington, Indiana; as well as several nieces and nephews, many cousins, and countless dear friends in North East, Pennsylvania, and Bradenton, Florida.
Sandy’s legacy lives on in the laughter she inspired, the friendships she cherished, and the love she gave so freely. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
Friends may call at the William D. Elkin Funeral Home, 65 South Lake Street, on Friday, July 17, 2025 from 3:00 pm till 6:00 pm. Private interment will be held at St. Gregory Cemetery.
Please send condolences to elkinfh.com.
Posted online on July 14, 2026
Published in Erie Times-News