Andrea Marie (Izzo) Drahms

Andrea Marie (Izzo) Drahms, of Savannah, NY, passed away at Wilmot Cancer Center on July 15, 2024, surrounded by her loving husband, children, and grandchildren.

Andrea was born on July 28, 1947, to Lucia (Donofrio) and Mario Izzo, who raised Andrea and her five younger siblings on Lake Ave in Auburn. Mario and Lucy came from Italian immigrant families, and they instilled in their children a love of America, pride in their Italian heritage, and values such as faith, family, work ethic, and love of neighbor. She graduated from Mount Carmel High School in 1965 and was the first person in her family to attend college, graduating from Nazareth College in 1969. Her first teaching job after college was in Rochester, where her supervisor encouraged her to meet a fellow teacher, Richard Drahms. Richard and Andrea's first date was in February 1970, and, despite Andrea's reputation for being a thorough decision-maker, they married just six months later in August 1970. In 1974, they bought an old farmhouse in Savannah, which turned into a labor of love over several decades, with a constant stream of home improvement and gardening projects. Fortunately, they were blessed with six children, who provided much love and a steady source of free labor.

Andrea lived a life of selfless service to her family and community. In addition to raising six children, she was an English and special education teacher in the Rochester, Fairport, Hicksville, Seneca Falls, and Waterloo school districts. She was past President of the Clyde-Savannah Board of Education and part of the initial group of volunteers that launched the Clyde-Savannah Dollars for Scholars. She was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Parish / St. Patrick's Church, Martha Ministry, Savannah Chamber of Commerce, Savannah Arts Festival, and Savannah Planning Board. In recognition of her many contributions to her adopted hometown, the Savannah Chamber of Commerce honored her with their "Citizen of the Year" award.

Andrea’s kitchen was legendary: spaghetti with clam sauce on Friday nights before Clyde-Savannah football games, calamari sauce on Christmas Eve, bread balls during Lent, and “Nana’s bread” on every occasion. She was an avid gardener who loved to pull weeds at sunrise. Andrea’s father was a tailor and taught her how to sew, a skill she carried with her throughout life. She created countless Halloween and school play costumes, a C-S Golden Eagle mascot, and even her own wedding gown.

Andrea’s favorite place was her seat at the kitchen table with a view of their ponds, woods, and farmland, and her burial plot will enable her to overlook for eternity the property she loved so much. She was a woman of faith who never missed Sunday Mass and was always quick to volunteer. Her favorite title was “Nana,” and she cherished showing love to and sharing memories with her grandchildren. She was frugal with herself and generous with others. She led by example and will be remembered for her kindness, patience, thoughtfulness, and tireless work ethic.

While Andrea was small in stature, she was tough as nails. She beat cancer in 2003 and again in 2004. It took a third bout of cancer to claim her life, but despite her sickness taking away her voice, ability to eat or drink, and mobility, it could not break her heart or spirit. She was the same Andrea until her last breath: never complaining and always focused on others. As far as we are concerned, she beat cancer a third time.

Andrea is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Richard Drahms; their children, Sara, Matthew, David (Laura), Peter (Holly), Nathan (Angela), and Anthony (Sierra); their grandchildren, including Olivia, Tanner, Adrianna, William, Daniella, Julia, Lukas, John, Clara, Maria, and Nico; her siblings Cynthia (Richard) Wilson, Christine Taylor, Mark (Susan) Izzo, and John (Lorraine) Izzo; her brother-in-law James

Reeners; her sisters-in-law Fely Drahms and Gail Drahms; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins across the Izzo, Donofrio, and Drahms families.

Andrea was predeceased by her parents, Mario and Lucy Izzo; her sister, Virgilia Reeners; her brothers-in-law Michael Taylor, Robert Drahms, and Frederick Drahms; and her mother and father-in-law Helen and Andrew Dahmer.

The family would like to thank everyone at Strong Memorial Hospital's Wilmot Cancer Center, which was Andrea's home for the last several months of her life, for their care and support.

Calling hours will be Friday, July 26 from 4-7pm at Pettigrass Funeral Home, 196 Genessee St, Auburn, NY. Funeral Mass will be Saturday, July 27 at 11am at St. Patrick's Church, 1583 Grand Ave, Savannah, followed by interment at Crusoe Cemetery, 2972 Route 89, Savannah. After interment, Andrea's family welcomes you to join them for a reception at Izzo's White Barn Winery, 6634 Cayuga Rd, Cayuga.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Joseph the Worker Parish / St. Patrick's Church (43 West DeZeng St, Clyde, NY 14433) or Clyde-Savannah Dollars for Scholars / Andrea Drahms Memorial Scholarship (PO Box 190, Savannah, NY 13146). Alternatively, please honor Andrea's legacy by reading a book to a child, calling a person who is sick or homebound, or volunteering in your community.

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