Sandra Paschall Bruce

Bruce—Sandra Paschall Bruce, 82, on December 20, 2025, in the loving presence of her family, in Lancaster, Pa. Sandy was born on August 16, 1943, to Quaker parents Edwin H. Paschall Sr. and Dorothy Haines Kirk Paschall in Wilmington, Del. The Paschall family lived on a farm in Chester County, Pa., and worshiped at London Grove Meeting in Kennett Square. Sandy was a steadfast Quaker her entire life.

Sandy was a person who stayed the course, quietly persisting in her endeavors without fuss or fanfare. When the family home burned to the ground, Sandy persevered in spite of losing all her possessions. When her teacher at Unionville High School told Sandy she was not qualified to go to college, Sandy quietly persisted. “Can’t” was not part of her lexicon. She received her high school diploma in 1961 and earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics education from Mansfield State College (now Commonwealth University–Mansfield) in 1965.

Sandy met Jerry Bruce in college at orchestra practice. Sandy played violin, and Jerry, double bass. After graduation Sandy worked for a federal agency that provided early childhood education, while Jerry worked as aquatic director at a Boy Scout camp. In August 1965, they married and moved to Binghamton, N.Y. Jerry entered graduate school at Syracuse University, and Sandy taught at Minoa Middle School in a suburb of Syracuse.

In July 1969, their first daughter, Beth, was born, and in August of that year, Jerry finished his graduate program in library science at Syracuse, while Sandy received her master’s in home economics education from the State University of New York at Oneonta. Jerry took a position as a branch manager for the Binghamton Public Library, while Sandy did part-time work in the adult evening school of the Binghamton School District.

Jerry was unhappy in his job, and Sandy wanted to be closer to her family. Jerry read an article about programming, planning, and budgeting in Library Journal. Its author was Harold Jenkins, director of the Lancaster County Library. The article impressed Jerry so he applied for a position at the library and was accepted. The family arrived in Lancaster in the fall of 1972 and began attending Lancaster Meeting. Sandy served on the Library Committee.

Sandy and Jerry had three more daughters, Heather and twins Catherine (Cathy) and Rebecca (Becky). Sandy was always quietly getting things done, including bringing up her daughters to be strong women, something that Sandy had learned from her mother and from her home economics professors.

Among the things that kept Sandy busy, in addition to her family, was working for R.R. Donnelley for 24 years typing text and proofreading. She also worked as a clerk/receptionist for the Pennsylvania State Police for five years. Sandy was often quietly helping other employees solve problems.

Sandy enjoyed knitting, sewing, and playing Canasta and pinochle with friends. She was active in Mothers of Twins, home economics associations, a sewing group, and an investment club.

Sandy was predeceased by her parents, Edwin and Dorothy Paschall; two brothers, John Paschall and Edwin Paschall Jr.; a sister, Judith Paschall Montague (James); and a daughter, Elizabeth Elfner (Bryan).

She is survived by her husband, Gerald Bruce; three children, Heather Kline (Michael), Catherine McCartan, and Rebecca Knapp (James); eleven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.