Sarah M. "Sally" (Osborne) Filipkowski

UTICA – On Saturday, September 20, 2025, Sarah M. “Sally” (Osborne) Filipkowski passed away peacefully at the age of 88, joining in eternal rest her beloved husband, Joseph, and their sons, Joseph Jr. and Jeffrey. Born in Neptune, NJ, on May 8, 1937, Sally was the daughter of the late William and Helen (Walo) Osborne. She was raised in Lakewood and attended Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Asbury Park. On December 5, 1959, she was united in marriage with Joseph Filipkowski, Sr. In 1961, the couple relocated to Utica, where they shared 50 years of a traditional and devoted union centered on faith, family, and mutual respect. Theirs was an old school love: a hardworking husband and a dedicated homemaker, raising three beloved children together. Joseph preceded her in death on August 15, 2010. The matriarch of her family, Sally took great pride in her roles as mother and grandmother. She was a steady presence and a source of strength to many—a natural leader, a loyal friend, and a compassionate listener who was always there with a shoulder to lean on. Known affectionately as the neighborhood mother, Sally was warm, kind, and gracious, never one to engage in conflict or controversy. She deeply valued the simple joys of life, especially her cherished card club nights with close friends and occasional trips to Atlantic City, which brought her much happiness. She also found great joy in tending to her vegetable garden and was a voracious reader throughout her life. Annual family trips to New Jersey were among her most treasured traditions, creating a lifetime of lasting memories spent visiting relatives and enjoying amusement parks with those she held dear. She was a devoted parishioner of St. Mark’s Church and her deep love for the Lord was evident in every aspect of her life. Her Catholic faith was the foundation of her values, and she instilled those beliefs in her family and daily living. Sally is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, James “Jim” and Erica Filipkowski; and daughter-in-law, Yifan Yan, surviving spouse of her late son, Joseph Jr. Her heart was filled with cherished memories of her sons who preceded her, Jeffrey “Jeff” Filipkowski (2014), and Joseph J. Filipkowski, Jr. (2023). She is forever etched in the hearts of her granddaughters, Alicia Marie, Sara Nicole, and Emma Catherine; and great-granddaughter, Westynn Leigh. She often reflected with warmth on her siblings and their spouses who had journeyed ahead of her, her twin, Helen Marie and Nicholas Granozio, Sr., Henry Osborne, and Ingrid Kolakowski. She is additionally survived my many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was also preceded in death by her longtime friend, Felicia (Pacciarelli) Caporale. Together, they helped raise and look after each other’s children, and Sally always regarded Felicia’s children—Loriann, Kimberly, and Pasquale—as her own. The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the nursing staff of the 11th floor Memory Care Unit at the Loretto Health and Rehabilitation Center for their kindness, compassion, and friendship. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Sarah’s Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life, which will commence on Monday, September 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mark’s Church, 440 Keyes Rd. There will be an opportunity to greet the family at the conclusion of Mass. In lieu of floral offerings, memorial contributions in Sally’s honor may be made to the Dementia Society of America online at www.dementiasociety.org/donate; envelopes will also be available at the Mass. Interment will take place in Calvary Cemetery.

Sarah M. "Sally" (Osborne) Filipkowski

May 8, 1937 - September 20, 2025