Sara A. Schwager

Sara A. Schwager, 84, left this world peacefully at home on April 17, 2023, with her loving and devoted husband of 43 years, Robert L. Schwager, by her side where he was happiest, and several of her children.

Born in 1938, the first half of her life was spent in Memphis, Tennessee, with a brief period in Columbia, Missouri, where she attended graduate school for Library Sciences. On a very snowy January 1, 1979, Sara arrived in Cortland, New York, where she joyfully married and lived with Bob until 2002 when they moved to a beautiful home in nearby Homer for the remainder of her life.

Sara was predeceased by her parents, Erle W. and Thelma G. Crenshaw, of Memphis, TN, and grandson, Ian A. Goode, of Albany, NY. She is survived by her children Karen G. May of Atlanta, GA, Marion G. Carrithers (Scott) of Louisville, KY, Elizabeth Goode of Baltimore, MD, and Georgianna D.G. Meagher (Kevin) of Highland, MD; two children by marriage, Deborah S. Froling (Steve) of Lorton, VA, and Stuart A. Schwager (Leslie) of Kensington, MD; adopted daughter Virginia Gray (John) of Endicott, NY; birth grandchildren Duncan R. Goode of Aberdeen, MD, Gabriel G. Weber of Madison, WI, and Cara A. Meagher and Conner L. Meagher of Highland, MD; and eleven additional grandchildren.

A passionate flower-lover, Sara designed and grew beautiful gardens; a hobby carried on by her daughters. Until recent years, she also used her incredible talent and brilliant eye for color to create gorgeous quilts and hand-work pieces.

Sara was an amazingly avid reader - she could read straight down the middle of a page and devour a book in a single afternoon. She shared her love of books as a librarian in Memphis junior and high schools, as well as at the Cortland Free Library from the mid-1980s until 1992. In Memphis, she also taught high school English, French and history. That erudite love continued as she and Bob ran their copy-editing business for 26 years, specializing in science fiction, as well as many other genres. Together, they were like a walking encyclopedia of all subjects to a stunning level of detail.

Music was an enormous part of Sara’s life from an early age. She was an accomplished and dedicated pianist through high school, continuing it as a beloved pastime into adulthood. Her appreciation and love of classical music was passed to and shared by all her girls. Most days you could hear music playing at top volume at the house, especially opera, Bob’s particular passion.

There wasn’t a cat Sara did not adore, be it the many whose company she and Bob kept over the years, or in any art form.

After 44 years of constant, unending, nearly obsessive devotion to each other, Sara left Bob in body, but never in spirit. A private celebration of life is planned for the summer.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Phillips Free Library in Homer, NY.

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