Mom
Sarah Anne Elizabeth Whelan Pappas
God saw she was getting tired
And a cure was not to be
So He put His arms around her
And whispered “Come with me”
With tearful eyes
we watched her suffer
And saw her fade away
Although we loved her dearly
We could not make her stay
A golden heart stopped beating
Laying loving hands to rest
God broke our hearts to prove to us . . .
He only takes the best
Sarah was born 17 February 1938 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, a daughter of James Joseph Whelan and Sarah Crowley. Her mother died in 1946 when Sarah was eight years old. She was raised and educated in Brooklyn, New York. She married John Pappas on 05 Jun 1955. They lived in Brooklyn until 1961, when they moved to Astoria. They raised four children. John passed away from leukemia on 25 July 1978, leaving Sally with their young family. She worked at Morgan Guarantee Trust for several years. She had also worked at Mater Christi Diocesan High School, which later became Saint John’s Preparatory. Mom loved to shop, which earned her the nickname of “Sally Alexander”. She enjoyed her friends, Irish music, dining out, animals and traveling.
In 1995 she was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease. She was no longer able to work, or drive. But it didn’t keep her from shopping when she discovered QVC. She also managed to keep in touch with family and friends, spending the wee hours of the morning on the computer.
Our Mom died at 3:30 P.M. on Thursday, 21 April 2005, at Cornell Medical Center, NY, NY.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband John; her brothers: James, John and Martin; sisters: Veronica, Mary and Patricia.
She is survived by her daughter Karen and husband, Allan Hergenrider of Montana; son Thomas and wife Wendy of Howard Beach; son Steven of Astoria; son John and wife Karen of Indiana; brother Gerard and wife Barbara of Florida; brother Kevin and wife Henrietta of Connecticut; and numerous nephews and nieces.
April 26th, 2005 at 7:55 am
I am sorry for your loss. May she rest in heaven, peacefully.
PGFan
April 26th, 2005 at 8:39 am
*hugs*
I’m so sorry.
April 26th, 2005 at 9:48 am
Awwww, Karen. My thoughts are with you.
April 26th, 2005 at 9:50 am
Karen, I am so sorry. Prayers and hugs.
Ann H.
April 26th, 2005 at 11:37 am
Deepest sympathies to you and your family. I am very sorry for your loss. She sounded like a wonderful woman.
April 26th, 2005 at 12:27 pm
Loved the photo of Una, Mom & Ti. Condolences to you and your family.
April 26th, 2005 at 12:48 pm
Condolences
GD
April 26th, 2005 at 2:29 pm
Only you would be able to maintain your sense of humor and mention your mom’s nickname “Sally Alexander” and her love of shopping in her obit. I can imagine your mom smiling down at you. Take care, and have a safe trip home. You’ve got a tired husband, dogs, lots of cows and friends waiting for you back here. Linn
April 26th, 2005 at 3:45 pm
Sorry about your loss, Karen. That was a beautiful tribute.
Peace to you and yours.
April 26th, 2005 at 5:16 pm
Our thoughts and prayers from the Middle of Nowhere are with you and yours during this time and always.
April 26th, 2005 at 5:25 pm
You’ve been in my thoughts, Karen.
April 26th, 2005 at 6:01 pm
Condolences from both Sheba and myself. At least her suffering is over, and she’s in a much better place. (Based upon what you’ve told us about her, I have a feeling that God is getting an earful right about now…)
Kirk
Sheba
April 26th, 2005 at 9:07 pm
I’m so sorry Karen. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
April 26th, 2005 at 9:10 pm
Karen, I am so sorry for your loss. It is a painful time, but with time, you will be comforted by her memory.
April 26th, 2005 at 9:49 pm
It’s so hard to lose your mom. I’m sorry you’re going through this. God bless.
April 26th, 2005 at 9:49 pm
It’s so hard to lose your mom. I’m sorry you’re going through this. God bless.
April 27th, 2005 at 12:24 pm
It sounds like she had a full life.
Our thoughts are with you.
April 27th, 2005 at 1:56 pm
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. You and your family will be in my thoughts. (((hugs)))
April 27th, 2005 at 5:47 pm
I’m so sorry to hear your Mother lost her valient fight. She left you many wonderful memories but they won’t totally fill up the hole that’s now in your heart.
April 27th, 2005 at 8:02 pm
my mom will live in my heart forever. This is the most tragic time of my life. I will love you always.Steve
April 27th, 2005 at 9:21 pm
We are so sorry, Karen. Our love and thoughts are with you.
April 28th, 2005 at 12:38 am
Karen,
My thoughts are with you and your family. Be strong!!
Troy
April 28th, 2005 at 6:05 am
Sorry dear Karen.
Prayers.
April 28th, 2005 at 3:16 pm
God bless you and keep you through your sorrow and beyond. I’m sorry.
April 28th, 2005 at 7:47 pm
I am so sorry for your loss. You gave a lovely tribute and your mom did sound like a wonderful woman. Our loss and heavens gain. May you be strong through memories, hugs and prayers during your time of grief.
April 28th, 2005 at 8:47 pm
I just got a chance to catch up on my Montana blogs and I wanted to let you know what a beautiful tribute that is and give you my condolences.
April 30th, 2005 at 3:48 am
Karen,
I finally have a chance to catch up with my blog reading when I read about your loss. My mother’s name was Sara Elizabeth Gordon. She passed away a week after her 50th Birthday in October of 1982. My brothers and sisters wound up with all of her possessions, while I had nothing to remember her by.
It was only a year ago that I found out that my brother Anthony had her driver’s licence with her photo, along with various other pictures of her. I immediatly got the licence and to this day it stays in my wallet. I look at her in her prime everyday and it makes me feel good that I was raised by a wonderful woman. I’ll bet your mother was a wonderful person as well.
May God bless her and keep her safe. My condolences to you and you family. I know she will be missed dearly.
April 30th, 2005 at 2:41 pm
My sympathies, Karen. Be strong — remember only the love and the happiness.
May 1st, 2005 at 9:23 pm
I am so sorry for your loss
I’m sure she knew how much you loved her, though. I’ll be thinking of you and your family.
May 2nd, 2005 at 10:51 pm
Sorry I’m so late to the dance I have been out of town and out of the loop for a few days.
Please accept my prayers and condolences in this difficult time.
May 5th, 2005 at 7:22 pm
Forgive me..> I have so behind the times..
I am sorry to read about the loss of your mother. Peace be unto you and your family.
July 17th, 2005 at 11:42 pm
I have been reading through all your posts and came across this one, so I had to comment. I am so sorry for the loss of your mother earlier this year. From this and other posts, I can tell she was very special.