Sandra Gromley

Sandy Gromley, 83, went to heaven to be with the Lord on December 28, 2022. She was born in Pennsylvania to June Kramer (Hoffmeier) on May 9, 1939. Grandpa Kramer had a big part in her upbringing, and she had fond memories of those times with him. Sandra got two younger brothers when her mother married, John Hoffmeier. Jay and Jeff Hoffmeier were her sources of pride.

Later, Sandra moved to Ohio and attended Kenmore High School where she was a talented majorette. She even got to march in the Soap Box Derby parades. She held a variety of jobs in her lifetime, including Ohio Bell, cleaning Goss Memorial Church, retail at a department store, and selling tires at Sears, JC Penneys, and Firestone. Sandra always impressed folks around her as a knowledgeable and thriving woman in what was typically seen as a hypermasculine automotive business. She was a lifetime member of Park United Methodist Church, where she taught children Sunday School, and would be seen at her normal pew on the left side, about eight rows from the front. Her favorite hobbies included sewing and gardening. She received the Beautification Award from the City of Akron for several years for her lovely garden and flourishing flowers.

Sandy met Harry Gromley when she moved to Akron and the two decided to get married. Their first child was Mark Gromley, who is now an electrician. Both of Mark's children, Jessica and Steven Gromley, have blessed Sandy and Harry with some great-grandchildren. Next was David, who is now employed by the University of Akron and has two children. Then lastly, Amy, who married Mark Heffernan (Sandra's favorite son-in-law) and has two children, Hallie and Spencer. Sandra was always happy and willing to take care of her grandchildren. She taught them how to read, bake, craft, check out library books, and be kind to others. You can be assured that her grandchildren had the absolute best costumes at any Halloween party there was, since she was such a creative and talented seamstress. Sandy was in high demand for her skills and was often called upon to make costumes, doll clothes, wreaths, curtains, along with many other handmade items for friends and family.

Sandra's other interests included listening to music and exercising to Sweating to the Oldies with Richard Simmons. She went to over one hundred Cleveland Cavaliers games at the Richfield Coliseum with her neighbor, Oats Badgley. She loved going to Cedar Point. She was a member of a Grandmother's Club. She attended hundreds of football and basketball games, wrestling matches, musicals, and dance recitals in which her children and grandchildren played a part. Her dogs (and everybody else's, too) gave her joy, so much so that she was affectionately referred to as "The Dog Whisperer." Her favorite dogs included Misty, Poos, Biscuit, Pepper, Kayla, Piper, Mr. Marco, Ruby, and several more in between.

Her most often heard advice and quotes include:

Don't mind that man behind the curtain (Referring to husband Harry).

Don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.

Don't eat yellow snow.

I won.

You're going to miss me when I'm gone (She was right).

Family and friends may call for a last visit at Park United Methodist Church in Kenmore on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 from 10:00 to 11:00. A Service at 11:00, followed by a burial service at Greenlawn Memorial Park.