Sara Beth Aldrich

Sara was born on June 5, 1940, in St. Joseph, Missouri to Willard & Ester Kurtz. Her love of music and dance started at a very young age. She started teaching dance and at the age of 10, her client list grew to the point where she opened her own studio, with her mom playing the accompanying music on the piano, an instrument Sara herself played for 70 years.

Sara graduated from college and graduate school with degrees in English and Physical Education, all while teaching dance to help cover the cost of school. In 1965, her spirit for adventure saw her traveling to Germany as a Civilian Employee for the U.S. Army. She worked in the Service Club as the Activities Director. It was in Germany she met the man she would spend the rest of her life with.

Sara and Vince faced a set of challenges that would have been insurmountable for most as at that time, an interracial relationship was not only taboo but illegal in many states in the U.S. They were married the day after the Supreme Court case, “Loving vs. Virginia,” declared the law prohibiting interracial marriages was unconstitutional, June 13, 1967. At the age of 76, Sara published her first book, "It’s Your Problem, Not Mine," detailing her and Vince’s love story.

Sara and Vince left Germany in 1968, after several years of traveling. They moved to New York where they created a home and family with 1 son and 1 daughter. Sara worked as a Recreational Therapist in various nursing homes for over 40 years. She had a genuine heart for others which she was able to express through her work. And through it all there was music, her first love and passion. Whether it was dancing, singing, or playing it, music played a key role in her life!

Sara and her husband retired to a beautiful small town in Delaware, 2 miles from the beach. Even in retirement, Sara continued to volunteer at various nursing homes and the recreation center where she resided, sharing her music with all. She discovered a love for the beach and found walking its sandy shores therapeutic, filling something in her where the music didn’t. She was whole.

She celebrated the birth of her first granddaughter, Ariana, in 2009 and valued every precious moment she spent with her. In 2017, Sara and Vince welcomed their second granddaughter, Lila. She was over the moon when she held her in her arms for the first time.

Sara’s priority was always family. Whether it was holidays, weekly letters to her children, or chronicling the family legacy, she was the true Matriarch of her small but mighty family.

In 2018, Sara published her second book titled, "Mother Mom," a heartfelt tribute to the amazing life of her biggest influence, her mom. In the second half of that same year, Sara and Vince moved to Orlando to be closer to their daughter, Stacie, when health challenges proved they needed more support.

Sara spent the last couple of years living in an Assisted Living facility close to Vince, where she continued to thrive and was an active member of the community. She went to most social gatherings, played bingo, and of course, brought joy through music with weekly piano concerts.

Sara’s final Christmas in 2021 was spent surrounded by her family and the crowning moment was meeting her first and only grandson, Thomas, born in June of 2021. She was blessed with many precious moments over her 81 years!

Hers was a life well-lived. A life to be celebrated and remembered with love, fondness, and joy! Take a moment, smile, and rejoice in knowing Sara was loved, cherished, and is now home with Our Lord.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Vince Aldrich, daughter Stacie, both of Orlando; her son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Karla of Fredericksburg, Virginia; her 3 grandchildren, Ariana (Stacie), Lila & Thomas (Jason & Karla); and her brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Barbara Kurtz.

In lieu of flowers, help support Sara’s passion for music. Memorial contributions may be made to Musical Minds Choir, a choir geared toward adults experiencing the early stages of memory loss, dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease.