Obituary: Sarah Francisco, 1974-2024 (2024)

SarahOlivia Francisco, an incredible wife, loving mother, sister,daughter, friend, teacher and so much more, died unexpectedly and alltoo soon on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at her family’s home inWilliston, Vt. She was 49.

Bornon October 3, 1974, in West Allis, Wis., Sarah was raised in SaratogaSprings, N.Y., where she made many of her closest lifelong friendsand fell in love with her high school sweetheart — and later,husband — Steve. They both attended the College of Saint Rose and,following graduation, moved to Vermont to begin their professionalcareers. After brief stints in Massachusetts and California, theyreturned to Vermont, where they established themselves as fixtures inthe community.

Sarah’stireless dedication to the field of speech therapy yielded twodegrees and, over the course of the last two decades, allowed her totouch the lives of countless students and families at the schools inwhich she worked. When she started working at Champlain Valley UnionHigh School, she became much more than a speech therapist. Shebefriended students and teachers alike, regardless of their role orwhether or not they were one of her own students. It’s through thatwork and her inclination to be everyone’s friend that she became sowell known and liked in the community. It’s also where sheselflessly shared the ideals she held most dear — such asperseverance; taking care of anyone and everyone; being kind,encouraging and accepting; and, most of all, spreading joy — withso many others. And even though she excelled in her role, hercuriosity and unwavering desire to keep learning always shinedthrough; she had recently passed the Praxis exam to become certifiedas an art teacher.

Yetas proud as Sarah was of all that she and Steve accomplished in theirprofessional lives, she took the most joy from the incredible familythat they created together and the values and qualities that makeOlivia and George who they are. “Hold on! Let me get my ‘ProudMama’ T-shirt,” she would often say, as each of her kids passedyet another milestone in sports, academics, volunteering or even justbeing great kids.

Whenthinking of Sarah, there are few things that people remember morethan her kindness, encouragement, acceptance and, most importantly,her limitless joy. Her smile was a beacon of joy and kindness, andshe was a vibrant and constant presence in the lives of all of thoseshe knew and loved. She reveled in sharing her quick wit and sense ofhumor and never hesitated to help support, care for and encourageeveryone she knew. As a virtuoso hostess and entertainer known farand wide for throwing unforgettable parties and holiday celebrations,she set a bar so impossibly high that anyone who ever attended onewill certainly think of her every time they plan even the smallest ofevents.

Sarahwas in constant motion, living and thriving in the present, whilealso planning for a future that included even more travel adventureswith the family, running her 14th marathon in November, welcoming thetwo special people that Olivia and George care about into the familyas if they were her own, starting a new chapter with Steve as emptynesters, and watching her children transition into and throughcollege, and she was quietly excited about the prospect of becoming agrandmother one day.

Sarahis survived by her two children, Olivia and George Francisco; herhusband, Steve Francisco; her brother, Nick Neilio; and her father,Bill Neilio. She was predeceased by her mother, Margaret “Peg”Neilio. Her passing is truly devastating and one that feelsinsuperable at times. If you feel like losing Sarah leaves atremendous hole in a world that will now be without her energy, joyand love, know that you are not alone. It is OK to feel the weight ofthis loss, just as it’s also OK to realize that Sarah would want usall to be brave. Though she is no longer with us, she lives on inmore than just memories. Her love of travel will undoubtedly carry onthrough the adventures her family and friends will continueundertaking in her honor. Her joyfulness and warmth will be everpresent in everyone she’s met, worked with and laughed with, as weall strive to see and touch the world the way she did. And mostimportantly, her legacy will live on in Olivia and George, wholearned enough from her in their 21 and 17 years to last theirlifetimes.

Acelebration of Sarah’s life will be held on Sunday, June 2, 2024,11 a.m., at Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Road,Hinesburg, VT. All family, friends, students and families arewelcome.