Obituary of Sara S. Bridger

Sara Swenk Bridger Sherrill-Sara Swenk Bridger, a resident of Geneva Living Center, Geneva, NY, went home to be with the Lord Friday September 16, 2016, with her loving daughter Kathryn at her side. Daughter of the late Robert G. and Katie Florence Swenk, Sara was born in Port Jefferson, NY, December 1, 1924. She graduated from Port Jefferson High in 1942 and Methodist Hospital of Brooklyn in 1946 with an R.N. degree. After graduation, Sara took a position at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, NY, where she met her beloved husband Everett. They lived in Cooperstown six years until Everett's job took them to Verona, NY, where they lived 49 happy years on Willow Place until moving to Sherrill, NY in 2005. Sara and Everett instilled in their children and grandchildren a love of God, the importance of giving and a strong work ethic. They gladly shared their faith, the abundance of their garden, and their love of song with all they knew. Sara enjoyed reading, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, walking, bird-watching and playing the piano for her grandchildren. She was an expert seamstress who made many Easter and Christmas dresses, and was known for baking delicious sweet buns and breads, canning and freezing fruits and vegetables and making butter toffee, a skill she passed on to her four children, to the delight of family and friends. She and Everett were long-time members of the United Methodist Church in Verona, sang in the choir and were on many committees. She was a homemaker for many years, and was also employed as an R.N. at Bassett and Oneida Hospitals. After surviving breast cancer, Sara counseled others with and affected by the disease. She experienced heart surgery in her 80s and lived with Alzheimer's disease for nearly the last decade of her life. Sara was predeceased by her husband Everett in 2006, her son-in-law Richard Tubbs, her brother Robert Swenk, his wife Ruby and their sons Bobby and Larry Swenk, her brother John Swenk, and her brother-in-law John Britting. She is survived by her sister Florence Britting (children John (Chip), Sara, Ann and Mark Britting), her sister-in-law Sandra Swenk (children Tim (Sally) and Brenda Swenk), brother-in-law Milton Hart, and sister-in-law Beverly (Art) Blessin. Sara is survived by four loving children John (Diana) Bridger, Fairfax Station, VA; Scott (Lisa) Bridger, Sherrill, NY; Kathryn Tubbs, Phelps, NY; and Barbara (Daniel) Downs, Averill Park, NY; eleven grandchildren, Sarah (Kyle) Glenn and Claire and Brennan Bridger; Rebecca and Hannah Bridger and Emily (Michael) Goyer; Jacob (Marsha) Tubbs and Leah (Luke) Young; and Lisa (Pasquale) Marotta, Craig (Theresa) Downs and Olivia Downs; and eight great-grandchildren, Isaac Goyer, Zachary and Alexander Tubbs, Cayden Young, Mikayla and Vanessa Marotta, and Reese and Reeyn Downs. Sara is also survived by many cherished relatives from the Swenk and Bridger families. The family wishes to thank Sara's life-long and new friends, as well as the church community, for their love and support during her time of need. We are also deeply thankful to the staff at Geneva Living Center North 2 for their loving care of Sara during her time there. Relatives and friends may call at Christ Church United Methodist, 417 Park Street, Sherrill, NY on Saturday September 24, 2016, from 9:30 am to 11:00 am. A service celebrating Sara's life will immediately follow the calling hours, followed by a lunch reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to breast cancer, heart disease or Alzheimer's research, or a favorite charity.