Sarah English
Age - 64
December 6, 2023
Sarah English was funny. She'd be the first person to tell you. Her extensive community of friends and family mourn her passing and will forever miss her humor and good spirit.
Surrounded by an abundance of love, Sarah, a beloved mother, sister, aunt, cousin, colleague, and friend, peacefully passed away on December 3rd, 2023, at the age of 64, after a battle with cancer.
Sarah was a longtime member of the staff at Marist College, where she led the Residence Life Department for 26 years, having previously become established in the field at Boston College. She spent so much of her life ensuring students could live their collegiate experiences with joy, safety and support. No sacrifice was too great, and no indignity was too insufferable in her decades of service as an exceptional professional who always stepped up and answered the call.
Her humble approach reflected her humble roots, born in Bay Shore, NY, and raised in rural Barton, Vermont, with much of her upbringing overseen by her beloved maternal grandparents, Emory and Irma Hebard, Sarah would go on to earn her B. A from the University of Vermont and later, a Masters from Michigan State University. In her youth, she revered the work of her grandfather, who served as Vermont State Treasurer, and had the privilege to serve as a Page in the Vermont legislature.
Sarah had two true loves in her life. The first, her son, Samuel Emory, who survives her and of whom she was immensely proud and fiercely protective, and due to that last emotion, we are confident she will forever watch over him from above. The second was Diet Dr. Pepper. You can be certain that in heaven, Sarah is drinking this beverage, perplexing to most of us but holy to her.
She reunites in heaven with her mother Sammy Ryan, her maternal grandparents, Emory and Irma Hebard, her paternal grandparents, Nathalie and Howard Hedger, and her father, Robert Hedger. In addition to her son, she is survived by brothers, Matthew, Adam, Douglas, and Stephen, for whom she was -- and reminded them frequently of the fact -- the favorite sister. She is also survived by many wonderful nieces and nephews and a similarly large group of exceptional cousins who came of age with her and will keep the secrets of their youthful indiscretions forever.
Sarah adored her friends, and they in turn, adored her. As she liked to say, there was always room at her table for one more person. Her table was therefore always full and getting fuller - even though she famously couldn't cook, except for a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese. Certain special friends knew an especially quick way to her table and heart was through a fine glass of red wine. The strength and love that her friends provided throughout her life were blessings that she cherished daily.
Appropriate to Marist's traditions, Sarah was a believer. She has left this life to enter into a painless, beautiful and holy kingdom. She has long counted many Catholic clergymen as dear friends and colleagues who were always valued spiritual guides and wise mentors in her life -- and happy to join her for a glass red, to boot. May she rest in peace, and may her soul live in glory in His heavenly kingdom -- and perhaps, because who of us can completely know His ways, may she also live on at Cosimo's, a much-frequented Poughkeepsie social gathering spot where she reveled among friends and didn't have to cook!
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sarah's name to a charity that is close to your heart.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, December 8th, 2023 from 5PM-8PM at the Wm. G. Miller & Son FH, Inc. , 371 Hooker Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 9th, 2023 at 1PM at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel at Marist College, 3399 North Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
Arrangements are under the direction the Wm. G. Miller & Son FH, Inc.Show more
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