Sarah Jane Van Emon Modjeski passed away peacefully at home on April 29, 2026. Born on October 12, 1942 in Bluffton, Indiana to Fred and Lucile Van Emon, Sarah earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Purdue University. She began teaching in Hammond, Indiana, where she met and married a fellow teacher, Jerome “Jerry” Modjeski. Sarah and Jerry married in June of 1966. A week later, they couple left for the summer to attend classes at the University of Illinois, where Jerry completed work on his M. Ed. Degree and Sarah began to work on hers.

Sarah taught at Irving Elementary School in Hammond until her first child was born. It was then that she decided to leave teaching and become a full-time mother. It wasn’t until her fifth (and last) child left grade school that she returned to teaching at St. Joseph Elementary in Kentland, Indiana. She taught at St. Joseph for eleven years. Sarah had a passion for encouraging her students to become readers and great thinkers.

In retirement, Sarah developed a talent for watercolor painting. She enjoyed weekly art lessons with a teacher and several friends. Her artwork was featured in many local art shows and is now peppered in the homes of her friends and family.

Sarah is survived by her children: Gina (Brian) Kahne, Jason Modjeski, John (Rakhee) Modjeski, Mary (Doug) Youngwith, and Megan (Scott) Adams; thirteen grandchildren: Erika, Eliza, Jericho, Jade, Max, Sam, Charlotte, Gus, Ian, Sydney, Simon, Molly, and Finn; a brother-in-law, Michael Modjeski; and a sister-in-law, Jan Modjeski.

Sarah was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Jerry Modjeski, parents, Fred and Lucile Van Emon, two infant brothers, and an older brother, Peter Van Emon.  

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the Kentland Public Library in Sarah’s memory. Sarah inspired her students to develop a love of reading and visited the library regularly herself.  Checks can be mailed to the Kentland Public Library, 201 East Graham Street, Kentland, IN 47951.

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