Sara Maher Obituary

Sara A. Maher, age 89, passed away July 13, 2022. Sara - or Sarge - as her siblings and numerous nieces and nephews called her, was born in Detroit, Michigan, July 6, 1933. Sara was one of eleven children born to David Maher and Catherine (Sarsfield) Maher. Sara is predeceased by her parents and brothers Michael Maher, Patrick Maher, Leo Maher, Timothy Maher, Basil Maher and sisters Rita Clink and Mary Brennan. She is survived by her sisters Rose Gardner and Veronica Long and brother Gerald Maher and twenty-seven (27) nieces and nephews and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Sara was born and raised in a strong Irish family and during her early years resided with her parents and siblings in the Emmett, Michigan area. She attended and graduated from Yale High School. Sara, like most of her siblings, worked at various jobs during her early teen years to help support the family. In her mid-through late teens, she worked at several jobs in the Port Huron, Mount Clemens area.
In January of 1956, at age 22, Sara was working for Michigan Bell Telephone Co. as a telephone operator in Detroit, when her mother was killed in an auto accident. With four younger siblings (Rose, Veronica, Basil and Jerry) living in the Emmett area and her father working and staying in Detroit 6 days a week, Sara stepped forward to assume the role of primary matriarch for her four younger siblings. Fortunately, she was able to retain her job with Michigan Bell and transfer to the Michigan Bell Port Huron office.
Sara's dependability, eagerness to learn, reliability, compassion for others and leadership qualities were soon recognized by her peers and co-workers and she ''rose in the ranks" within the Michigan Bell organization. During the mid 50's to mid 60's, Sara assumed supervisory positions and became the Office Manager in the Port Huron office. At the same time - she was also "supervising" those younger siblings through their teen years. That's when she acquired the nickname "Sarge" primarily from the friends and peers of those siblings. In addition to helping financially with her siblings while advancing in her employment, Sarge kept a pretty close eye on her younger siblings, to ensure they were on a path leading to independence and responsibility. And most of all, she did so by example.
Over the next 30 years, Michigan Bell transformed into Ameritech and ultimately, AT&T. The telecommunications industry was rapidly changing, and Sara, being the valued employee she was, transformed with it. Her employer recognized her skills and talents as a manager of people and a bridge between management and workers. These were particularly stressful times as technology was displacing telephone operators and "downsizing" was occurring. Sara was assigned numerous office locations in Michigan during this period to assist in making that transition. Offices she managed included Grand Rapids, Jackson and the Detroit metropolitan area. She lived in Port Huron, then Grand Rapids, then Novi, during these years but, also had to travel many other places including New York City and San Francisco for multiple month assignments.
Sara retired from AT&T in 1989 and purchased a home in Rogers City, Michigan, on the shores of Lake Huron, with a deck that overlooked a beautiful city park. Her home in Rogers City, was the gathering place for many of her siblings and their children (Sara's nieces and nephews) during the summer and fall months. Overnight and weeklong stays at Sargies' Rogers City home was "the place to be" for many nieces and nephews and their parents during the summer and particularly during the fall festival and parade. Sara also had a winter house in Avon Park, Florida for a number of years, which she occupied during the winter months and hosted many friends and family members from the North, during those northern grey November - February days.
Sara was active in many civic groups while in Rogers City. She enjoyed company and many friends she went on walks with and enjoyed playing cards with, during the 29 years she lived there. In the fall of 2018, she moved from Rogers City to an assisted living facility in Fort Gratiot, Michigan to be nearer to her siblings, nieces and nephews. She again made easy friends and enjoyed playing cards and participating in activities.