Sarah Irene Haeffner

Sarah Haeffner, age 95, passed peacefully from this life on November 14, 2021 in University Place, Washington. She was born August 28, 1926 in Denver, Colorado. She graduated from Denver’s North High School in 1945 and then attended fashion design school in Chicago. While home on summer break she met the love of her life, Oliver Haeffner. Sarah and Ollie were married on January 6, 1947. They had three children, Kathleen, Susan and Timothy.

They raised their family in North Denver and Arvada, Colorado until 1966, when Ollie accepted a position at Bank of Washington. The decision to move to Tacoma turned out to be a good one. They spent many happy years exploring the PNW and enjoyed playing golf and spending good times with many wonderful friends and neighbors. Sarah began doing volunteer work at Tacoma General Hospital and was soon hired as Director of Volunteers due to her organizational and people skills. After seven years at TG, she went to work for Ballard Community Hospital as Director of Volunteer Services.

Sarah had a wish come true when their first grandchild, Ryan was born. Soon more grandkids arrived to fill their life with love, laughter and fun adventures; Zach, Erin and Adam. Once Sarah and Ollie retired, they took a dream trip to Ireland to visit Ollie’s ancestral village. Then there was golf and more golf.

When Ollie died unexpectedly in 1990, Sarah gathered all her strength and faith and kept on going.

 She learned to play bridge

 She joined a book club and a discussion group

 She volunteered countless hours at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church

 She sold the big house in Fircrest and moved into a brand-new patio home in University Place

 She travelled with her friends, Ottilie, Jayne and Joan

 She became an active member of Catholic Women’s Club, and served as President from 2010 ‐ 2011

 She worked the daily crossword and made many beautiful, hand‐sewn quilts

 and of course, she delighted in her three precious great grandchildren

Sarah is survived by her three children, Kathy (Jack), Susie and Tim (Bernadette), four grandchildren, Ryan, Zachary, Erin (Nicholas) and Adam, three great grandchildren, William, Bennett and Laurel.  She also leaves behind her sister-in-law Joan, a dear nephew Michael (Mary) and two loving nieces, Debra and Kathie. 

The family would like to thank and acknowledge Sarah’s in‐home caregivers, plus all the caregivers and managers at River Rock AFH for the loving and compassionate care they provided during her final years.

Funeral Mass for Sarah will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 5, 2022 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall.  Inurnment at 2:00 p.m. at Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made to Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation or the St. Charles Food Bank.

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