Sara Foti Boytim, 89, of Boydton, VA passed away Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Kerr Lake Nursing and Rehab in Henderson, NC.

Born in Westmoreland County, PA in 1937, she was the daughter of the late Patsy Foti and Julia Mellicant Foti. Sara grew up in Greensburg, Pennsylvania and after graduating high school worked as a secretary for a local Catholic church. She later met her future husband, Andrew "Andy" Boytim at a dance, where Andy was playing saxophone. They married in 1962 at St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church in western Pennsylvania.

Throughout their life together Sara and Andy lived in multiple states as Andy's job with IBM moved to various locations throughout his career. Through it all Sara took it in stride, became a master of the move, and made sure that whatever home she, Andy and her children lived in became a home, if even for a little while.

Sara and Andy had three children, all girls, Julia Ann Boytim Hoogasian (married to Steven), Barbara Jean Boytim Payne (married to Richard) and Kathleen Ann Boytim Ortiz (married to Jerry). Each of their children lived in different states, so Sara's and Andy 's travels continued as they visited their daughters, later attending weddings and celebrating births.

After Andy retired from IBM, he and Sara took to the roads again, but this time for fun, not work. They traveled extensively within the United States and in Europe as well. They loved cruising together. On a memorable cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary in 2012, Sara and Andy, along with two of their children and sons-in-law and a multitude of grandchildren, took a cruise over Thanksgiving from Maryland to the Bahamas. Sara's favorite activity on the cruise was visiting the soft serve ice cream machine – where she was always joined by her twin grandsons Matthew and Kevin.

As their life progressed, and they felt the need to be closer to family, Sara and Andy moved to Chesapeake, Virginia to an independent living facility. After Andy's passing in 2020, Sara eventually moved to Boydton, Virginia with her daughter, Kathy, and after some health issues struck, was moved to Kerr Lake Nursing and Rehabilitation in Henderson, North Carolina.

For close to two years, the residents and staff at Kerr Lake had become her friends. She was quick to tease the staff and quickly became known as "Grandma Sara." Sara developed a special relationship with her most recent roommate, Beulah, and the two became like sisters. Beulah showed great kindness and empathy to Sara, and Sara's family will be forever grateful for her kindness.

In addition to her children and their spouses, Sara is survived by seven grandchildren, several great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew George Boytim and three brothers, James Foti, David Foti and Pasquale Foti.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are by Sossamon Funeral Home of Henderson. Online condolences may be made at www.sossamonfuneralhome.com.