Sarah Marie (Roach) Mather

Born 23 February, 1977, died 17 August, 2019. Our family is saddened to announce the untimely and unexpected death of Sarah after a brief hospital stay. Sarah was not unfamiliar with hospitals these past few years. She was a resident of Parkstone Enhanced Care in Clayton Park and required regular, ongoing treatment to support her medical circumstances. The last five years of her life have been an enormous struggle and a testament to her strength and perseverance to overcome all odds.

Sarah grew up initially in Dartmouth in the loving care of her mother and extended maternal family – until the age of seven when she picked a father to complete her family. Sarah was an active and determined child despite a disability from birth. She refused to allow that disability to limit any aspect of her young life - taking part in cheerleading and field hockey, and eventually pursuing the study of forensic anthropology at Saint Mary’s University.

Sarah’s academic pursuits were eventually overshadowed by her true passion – Nike sneakers. She worked for years in retail and took great pride in her knowledge of and merchandising abilities for all things Nike.

Sarah was an avid monarchist. Anyone who came into her living space would recognize how she loved (most of) the British Royal Family from her ever-changing and impressive collection of memorabilia and books.

Even above the Royals, however, Sarah loved her cats, Jasper and Ginger.

Sarah is survived by her father Tom Roach and stepmother Amy Bennet Roach, sisters Elizabeth (Greg Conrad) and Emma Roach; aunts and uncles Lynne Samways Hiltz and Fred Hiltz, Scott Samways, Kathleen (Roach) and John McKay, Greg and Nancy Roach, Phil and Patti MacKinnon Roach; and a large, loving extended family including cousins (especially Nathan Hiltz who was like a brother to Sarah,) great-aunts, step-siblings; and former husband Patrick Mather.

Sarah was predeceased by her sister Caitlyn; mother June “Sissy” (Samways) Roach; grandparents Madeline “Twinkle” and Doug Samways, Dartmouth; Tom and Pat Roach, New Waterford; and best friend Christa Richardson, Lower Sackville.

Our family is grateful for the loving care of the staff of the QEII Health Sciences Centre, the Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre, and Parkstone Enhanced Care, Garden Court. We are also thankful for the wonderful friendships that Sarah enjoyed with fellow residents and their families.

Cremation has taken place. Funeral services will be held at 2 pm on September 7 at All Saints Cathedral, 1330 Cathedral Lane, Halifax.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Sarah’s memory to the QEII Health Sciences Centre Foundation Comfort & Care Fund. https://my.qe2foundation.ca/donate