SCHNUCK, Sara Kathryn
Sara was born on Mother’s Day, May 10, 1964 to Henry Donald and Mary Ella Schnuck as the youngest of four children. She was adored by both sets of grandparents, Henry and Kathryn Schnuck and John Marshall and Sarah Edna Waynick.
Sara grew up in Paducah, Kentucky and attended the Easter Seal Center before public school was available, and then the Lone Oak Schools. She treasured and remembered all her friends there, as well as the friends in the Cape Fair Community at Kentucky Lake where she ZRXOG YLVLW KHU ¿VKLQJ JXLGH brother, Don, and his wife, Rebekah, and daughter, Anna.
In 1996, Sara moved to Rome, Georgia to make her home with Peter, Rita, and Catherine Lawler. She loved Rome and quickly found her places in the community. She found many friends ZLWK WKH VWDƔ DQG PHPEHUV of the Network Day Service Center. She began lessons in electric guitar and music therapy at Musikworks. She was one of the original members of the Just as I Am Choir where she enjoyed practicing and performing with her friends. She also participated in Dance Club and Art Club meetings. Her room UHÀHFWHG KHU ORYH RI PXVLF with an enormous collection of books, art and CDS. Her favorite hangouts in Rome included Barnes & Noble, Schroeder’s, General Dollar and the Lindale Kangaroo. She created a world for herself with the television, CDS and the ipad, where she could look up anything she didn’t already have and call all her friends on Facetime. She loved to be in her garden area outside under the trees where she fed, watched and listened to “her” birds. Her favorite companion was her little dog, Annie Mae.
As people came to know Sara, they were amazed by her many talents, her creativity, her ambition, her humor, her resilience, her loyalty, her generosity, and her ¿HUFH LQGHSHQGHQFH 6DUD never forgot anyone who was kind to her. She would often show her love by bringing friends presents of their favorite drink and candy.
In addition to her parents and grandparents, Sara was preceded in death by her sister, Denise Beyer, and by her brother-in-law, Dr. Peter A. Lawler. Peter’s published work and advocacy, his commitment to individual dignity, bioethics, and caregiving was informed by his experiences and devotion to Sara.
Sara is survived by her sister, Rita Lawler of Rome, GA, niece, Catherine Lawler (Patrick) Jackson, and children, Henry and Molly of Decatur, GA, her brother Don (Rebekah) Schnuck of Kentucky Lake, KY, niece, Anna (Aaron) Jernigan of Knoxville, TN.
A Funeral Mass celebrated by Fr. Rafael Carballo will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 10:30 AM on Friday, February 24, 2023.
The family wishes to thank everyone who opened their hearts over the years to Sara, especially Musikworks, DIGS, Inc. and Network. We are also grateful for the entire St. Mary’s community and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home.
For those wishing to make a donation in Sara’s memory, contributions may be sent to The Red Guitar c/o Musikworks, 405 E. 2nd Ave., Rome, GA 30161 to fund music lessons for special students or to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home (OLPH) the hospice home where Sara was cared for with love and tenderness, during her last illness 760 Pollard Blvd. SW., Atlanta, GA 30315.
You can shed tears that he is gone, or you can smile because he lived. You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left. Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him, or you can be full of the love that you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember him and only that he is gone, or you can cherish his memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn back, or you can do what he would want: Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
— Author Unknown