Family and Friends,

We are deeply heartbroken to share that Sarah Lee Tharnstrom passed away peacefully on August 3, 2025, in her husband’s arms and surrounded by her children.

Sarah was born on March 7, 1962, in Springfield, Massachusetts, to John and Elnora Reynolds. After her father’s passing in 1969, she and her mother moved closer to family, eventually settling in Belton, Texas, where she graduated from high school in 1980. Even as a young woman, Sarah’s gentle spirit and kind heart were evident—she had a gift for making others feel valued, never rushing to judgment, and always offering patience and understanding. Alongside her gentleness, she carried an inquisitive mind and a deep curiosity about the world around her. She loved animals, plants, rocks, and science, always marveling at the beauty and wonder of nature.

In the spring of 1981, while attending the University of North Texas, Sarah met the love of her life, John, when she asked to borrow a pencil in zoology class. John was immediately taken with her, and though she declined his first invitation, she promised him a raincheck. A few weeks later, they went on their first date on Valentine’s Day. That summer, both transferred to the University of Texas at Austin, where Sarah pursued her love of learning as an archaeology major. She found joy in exploring history, science, and the natural world—interests that would stay with her throughout her life. She and John became engaged atop Mount Bonnell in 1984 and were married that September.

Sarah and John began their married life in Chicago, where Sarah taught while completing her Master’s degree in Education. She poured her patience and generosity into everything she did, whether as a teacher, a neighbor, or a friend. Together, they raised four children—Jonathan, Anika, Kelsey, and Sarah Sage. As a mother, Sarah created a home filled with warmth, acceptance, and curiosity. She encouraged her children to notice the small wonders of the world, to ask questions, and to treat others with kindness. Her children remember her as their calm center, someone who encouraged them with grace, listened without judgment, and loved without condition.

In 1994 the family settled in Wheaton, Illinois. After several years as a devoted stay-at-home mom, Sarah returned to the classroom in 2001, teaching kindergarten until 2015. Her students adored her, drawn to her gentle encouragement and her excitement for discovery. She made her classroom a place where learning was joyful and where every child felt safe, understood, and celebrated.

After retiring in 2015, Sarah moved back to Texas, where she delighted in her garden, cared for plants and animals, traveled, and devoted herself to causes close to her heart.  In 2021 she returned to Wheaton to be near family, where she was joyfully blessed with four grandchildren, who lovingly called her “Gaga.” She embraced this role with the same patience, generosity, and wonder that defined her life, showing her grandchildren the beauty of nature and teaching them the same spirit of curiosity she carried all her life.

Sarah is survived by her husband and best friend, John; her son Jonathan (Ali); her daughters Anika, Kelsey (Evan), and Sarah Sage; and her beloved grandchildren Abel, Kennedy, Oda Lee, and Linnea.

More than anything, Sarah will be remembered for her character—her gentleness, kindness, patience, generosity, and her endlessly inquisitive mind. She had a gift for noticing beauty in the smallest details, from a bird in flight to a stone in her hand, and for sharing that wonder with those she loved. To know Sarah was to be inspired to look more closely at the world and to experience kindness in its purest form.

We invite you to join us in celebrating her life on Tuesday, September 23, at 3:00 p.m. at the Morton Arboretum. Please RSVP on this website in the event section.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation,  in the hope that one day a cure will bring an end to this fight for so many families.

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