Sheri Marie Sannella, 57, of Lake Wylie, South Carolina passed away peacefully October 18, 2024 at the Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House after living with lung cancer for four years.  Sheri was born in Parma, Ohio on October 17, 1967 to Michael A. Lewandowski and Hollace A. (Suda) Lewandowski.  She is survived by husband Stephen J. Sannella, son Michael Sannella and daughter Ava Sannella, sisters Michele (Joel) Rozga and Lisa Lewandowski, and several cousins, nieces, nephews and a grandnephew. She is preceded in death by her grandparents.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, October 26, 2024 at the Lake Wylie Christian Assembly Church, 5766 Charlotte Highway, Lake Wylie, South Carolina with the Rev. Lewis Gunn officiating.  The family will receive friends at 2:00 p.m. prior to the service.

Sheri grew up in Broadview Heights, Ohio and graduated from Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School in 1986, while being a captain of the Honeybees Dance Squad.  She graduated from the University of Toledo in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science.  She met Steve Sannella in 1991, and they married in 1992, moving to Rock Hill, South Carolina in 1993 to start their lives together.  She later attended Mercy School of Nursing earning the valedictorian honor of the graduating class of 2013. 

Sheri had a smile larger than life, and her energy radiated.  Her passion was helping people achieve their fitness goals and loving all of God’s creatures.  She raised 19 cats and nine dogs over the years, and she saved many animals from harm’s way, ready to conduct field surgery (if necessary) on any injured frog, lizard, bird, turtle or other animal. 

She worked at S&ME Corporation as a microscopist for a few years and then taught fitness classes at the Upper Piedmont YMCA from 2009 until her disease made it impractical.  She was adored by her coworkers and fitness students, and she returned the love by inspiring them to enjoy the “dance party”, relieve stress and enjoy one another’s company.  

Perhaps the greatest thing about Sheri was her relationship with God; she was baptized at Lake Wylie Christian Assembly in September 2022 and enjoyed her time worshipping, making new friends and being a choir member, if even for a short time.  Lastly, Sheri was a courageous inspiration, as she lived with cancer for four years while tenaciously working toward resolving the challenges arising from the disease. She served as a role model to others showing how positivity and hard work can lead to success in life even against its greatest health challenges. Her faith and healthy lifestyle serve as a roadmap for her children and others.

The family wishes to thank the staff at the Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House for their loving care and the staff of Atrium Health including both the Levine Cancer Institute and the Pineville Hospital who were all particularly attentive to Sheri and her condition.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor, to the Lake Wylie Christian Assembly Choir and/or Dance Team Ministries, 5766 Charlotte Highway, Lake Wylie, SC 29710.

M. L. Ford & Sons Funeral Home, Clover, SC is serving the family of Mrs. Sannella.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.