Sandra Avila

Sandra Lisette Avila, 65, went peacefully home to the Lord on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at UPMC Harrisburg Hospital.

Sandra was born on December 4, 1959, in Puerto Cortes, Honduras to the late Cirilo Jose Avila and Ermicenda Gonzales.

Sandra came to the United States of America in 1981, making Brooklyn, NY and later Harrisburg, PA her new home. As an immigrant to the US, she worked tirelessly to provide for her three daughters owning several businesses and being the first in her family to buy a home.

Sandra loved thrift shopping, watching Turkish Soaps, talking on the phone with loved ones for hours on end, visiting Diners with her daughters, late night McDonalds runs for decaf Coffee, giving to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and taking spontaneous driving trips. But above all, Sandra loved listening to preachings from different ministers. She’d listen to sermons all day, every day.

Sandra battled with Lupus and resulting chronic illnesses for over 30 years. She was strict with her health regiments from taking supplements, to following a gluten-free diet. But occasionally, she did love to indulge in homemade flour tortillas and the occasional cookie!

Sandra leaves behind a legacy marked by progress—a reminder that life is not where you came from but where you can go. Sandra went further than anyone in her family. Because of her resilience, she blessed her children and her children’s children with a new foundation; a foundation where each now had the capacity to acquire emotional, spiritual and generational wealth. We celebrate all that she gave us. She believed and so she was.

She is survived by her daughters, Marilyn Delgado, Christiane Delgado, Katherine Marulanda-Avila; her grandchildren, Nyrobie Rodriguez, Leilani Marulanda, Trinity Batista, and Bradley Wainwright II; her canine grandson, Bart; and her cat, Jasper.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Neumyer Funeral Home, 1334 N. Second St. Harrisburg from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Fountain of Life Church, 3608 Progress Ave, Harrisburg, PA 17109 following the public viewing.

Burial will be private in Shoop’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating towards Sandra’s funeral expenses at

https://gofund.me/7b4e1e4c

Neumyer Funeral Home, Inc. handled arrangements.