Sandra Domenica Tortora Moore, a resident of Huntsville, AL “but a true native New Yorker,” passed away on June 16, 2025.
Sandra was born on January 12, 1937, in Astoria, Queens to Anna Calvaconte Tortora and Joseph Tortora. Sandra graduated from Washington Irving High School in Manhattan. After convincing her family that the best way to fulfill her dream of being a nurse was to move to Alabama, she moved south to attend the Holy Name of Jesus Nursing School in Gadsden, AL where her uncle, Charlie Calvaconte, had recently attended a seminary. She met her husband, Jerry, while in Gadsden, on a blind date and they got married in New York on June 10, 1958. Despite protests from her family that she move home to Queens, she and Jerry settled in Huntsville. All kidding aside, as much as she missed New York and her family, she came to love Huntsville and was proud to call it her home. She worked as a nurse at Huntsville Hospital and at Crestwood Hospital for over 30 years and loved cooking, traveling, volunteering at the church and spending time with her grandkids. Her son Joe honored her by making her the namesake of his Tortora’s Restaurant in Hampton Cove.
Sandra was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Jerry, who passed away in 2022, and her beloved son, Stephen Craig, who passed away in 1982. She is survived by her sister, Carmela “Connie” Highfill. Sandra was blessed with six children, Stephen Craig, Kim Elizabeth Moore Bordelon (Kenny), Jerry Brian “Jay” (Tamara), Joseph Sean, Julie Ann MacMurray (Kory) and Jason Matthew. Sandra was affectionately known as Nana to her grandchildren, Samantha Facteau (David), Bond Bordelon, Stephen Maxwell MacMurray, Graham Joseph Moore, Sergey Maples, and Sydney Ann MacMurray; and her beloved pets, Maddie and Ava. Sandra loved her niece and nephew, JoAnn Sayer (Ethan and Sophie) and Glenn Highfill.
Special thanks to caregiver, Juliane Osbourne who loved mom and dad, and is a dear friend to all of us. Thanks to Sasha Small and Shannon Washington as well.
Sandra was blessed with many dear friends and had a love of life and cannolis. She taught her kids kindness, generosity and respect for others.
Visitation to honor Sandra’s life will be held at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, 2320 Bob Wallace, Huntsville, on Thursday, June 19, at 1:00 p.m. with a service to follow at 3:00 p.m. All are welcome. Reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a contribution to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or St. Vincent de Paul’s in her name.
