Obituary of Ebba J. Sayre

Ebba J Sayre, 82 of Bedford Hills, NY died Monday April 16, 2018 at Westchester Medical Center.

Mrs. Sayre was born in Pensacola, FL to Finnish immigrants Rosa and Gust Jalava, on November 30, 1935. She graduated with a BA in Journalism, University of Michigan. She went on to receive a Master’s Degree in teaching, Hofstra University and a second Master’s in Gerontology from Mercy College.

She taught both junior and senior high school English and Social Studies and held positions as both full time and substitute teacher in a number of schools in Westchester and Putnam.

She was an activist especially interested in supporting rights and equality for women. Serving as Northeast Regional for OWL (Older Women’s League) she helped get Cobra passed by lobbying lawmakers in Washington.  A devout philanthropist, Ebba participated or donated to many causes including Consumer Reports, Salvation Army, OWL, Nature Conservancy and Guiding Eyes for the Blind among others.

Ebba is the loving wife of dearly departed John E. Sayre, the beloved mother of Lisa and John M Sayre and amazing mother-in-law of Rick Rosenthal. She is also the grandmother of Easton Sayre-McGill and Joyana Rosenthal. Ebba will be missed by many relatives and friends in Finland and the US.

She had what the Finnish people call SISU going the extra mile with resilience, tenacity, determination, perseverance - an inner reserve of diligence.

A Celebration of her life will be held on May 19, 2018 at 11 AM at the Bedford Presbyterian Church

Memorial contributions may be made to her favorite local charity Guiding Eyes for the Blind.  https://donate.guidingeyes.org or sent to 611 Granite Springs Rd, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598. There will be an option online for Memorial and you can put in Ebba Sayre.