Sandra Sue Neralich (Doslak) was born on August 27, 1943 at 4:40 PM at Firmin Desloge Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. She was born eight months after her father, Adam, left to fight in World War II. Sadie, her mother, and her lived at 1018 South 9th Street.
Sandra’s father returned home from the war, and three years and four days after her birth,
God blessed their family with a baby boy named Adam.
Purina Mills bought their property on 9th Street, and they moved to McNair Avenue for a year until they were able to buy a two-family flat at 4168A Shenandoah. Sandra attended elementary school at St. Mary’s of Victories where she graduated in 1957. Some of her elementary school achievements included being voted both May Queen and Carnival Queen. As a young child she took tennis and dancing lessons. She enjoyed dancing and roller-skating with her cousins.
During high school she started her first job as a waitress at Gino’s 39th Street Grill and worked as a food line server at Firmin Desloge Hospital. She graduated from St. Francis de Sales High School in 1961 and went on to begin college, where she enrolled in a Japanese language course with hopes of becoming a United Nations interpreter. Although she did not complete her studies, her ambition reflected her curiosity and determination.
Sandra worked as a receptionist at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., a brokerage firm, before moving on to Continental Boiler. She later joined Berland Shoe Company as a merchandiser and even modeled their footwear. She ultimately left the company when a larger firm acquired Berland and asked her to relocate to another city.
Because of her dancing ability Sandra learned to swing dance by watching the American Bandstand and learned to “Imperial,” a St. Louis style of swing dancing, made popular by the Imperial Dance Club on Goodfellow Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri.
At the age of twenty-three, using the money she had carefully saved, she traveled through Europe with a girlfriend, visiting England, France, and Germany. When she returned to the states, she began working as a tour director for a touring company known as Intrav. Because of her knowledge of the Japanese language, she spent a year and a half leading tour groups from New York and Boston through Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Bangkok.
Sandra then worked for the Spanish airlines, Iberia, as a sales representative until she married the love of her life, Steven J. Neralich on April 28, 1973. Sandra and Steven have one child who is named after Sandra’s mother, Sadie Veronica, who married Paul A. Carrera.
Sandra did not work while Sadie was in grade school but went back to work to help pay for Sadie’s private high school, figure skating, and college tuition. She worked at Nettie’s Garden Shop selling flowers then went to work at Dillard’s Department store selling woman’s shoes. She decided to return to school to learn how to use the computer and began working with Olsen Temp Service. She was placed at Oracle Corporation who then hired her on a permanent basis as an Administrative Assistant. She retired from Oracle on July 31, 2002. She enjoyed being part of the Red Hatter’s Club and was very involved with her daughter Sadie’s figure skating. She loved to travel around the country mainly as part of her daughter’s skating competitions but, also as Sadie got older, she loved going to various gambling casinos with her husband, Steven. Some of her favorite destinations were Las Vegas, Tunica and Biloxi Mississippi, Kansas City, Council Bluff Iowa, Foxwoods Connecticut and others too many to mention.
Meeting new people and making friends was what she loved. Because of her beautiful smile that lit up the room, people were drawn to Sandra, and she made many friends.
In 2013, as she entered her early 70’s, she developed Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension, severe dementia, and cognitive impairment which slowly progressed to where she could no longer communicate or take care of herself, leaving her dependent on others for her everyday care.
Sandra passed away on February 19, 2026 at 12:25pm, the exact day of her mother’s death 51 years prior. Sandra was truly amazing in life and a fighter even in death.
Service: Visitation Wednesday, February 25, 2026 10:00 AM until service at 12:00 PM at Kutis South County Chapel (5255 Lemay Ferry Road.) Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
My heart is breaking for you. Your mom was such a beautiful spirit. So full of life, laughter, and so much love. She had a real zest for life! Watching someone so vibrant become totally dependent after developing Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension is something no one is ever prepared for, but you showed up for her with so much strength, patience, and compassion. She was so lucky to have you by her side through it all. I’m praying for peace and comfort for you and your family in the days ahead.