Sarah V. Conterez

Sarah Conterez was an amazing woman, a woman of such great inner strength, grace, faith and love. She faced many challenges in her life, many hurdles, yet bore each of her burdens with uncommon courage and perseverance. Sarah was a wonderful mother and grandmother, and a beautiful lady, yet most of all, she taught us that true beauty, and strength, comes from within. Sarah's story began on a cool December day in 1921, in the little town of McAlester, Oklahoma, just outside Oklahoma City. Those were fascinating times in this country, as the Roaring 20s began, along with Prohibition, while women were given their due right to vote for the first time just a year before. In the midst of a post-World War I recession, America suffered the growing pains of moving from the Industrial Age to a new, Progressive Era. On December 16, 1921, Sarah was born in McAlester, a beautiful, half-Cherokee little girl, heritage she would grow to be very proud of. Sarah was raised by foster parents since her birth, and her surrogate parents were very strict with young Sarah. For many years, her foster mother would send her out to help others clean and perform other odd jobs, for which Sarah was paid very minimally, yet she found helping others to be so rewarding. In her difficult youth Sarah learned how strong she was inside, and found the great faith in the Lord she kept so close to her heart her whole life. Sarah was raised as a Catholic, and she embraced the church from a young age. The nuns at her Catholic Church were very good to her, taking her under their wings, for which she was so grateful her whole life. She had many fond memories of her church, which were truly the best times of her childhood. Anxious to set out on her own, Sarah married at an early age, and she and her husband quickly started their large family. Sarah was blessed with seven beautiful children; Mary, Roy, Delores, Bob, Richard, Rena and Steven. Sadly, Sarah lost two of her daughters at an early age, as Mary died of leukemia at five years old, and Rena died from burns in a fire at the age of six. The family lived in a tiny little shack in Henryetta, Oklahoma for many years, which Sarah did her best to make a home. Sarah's husband was gone much of the time, and it wasn't the happiest of marriages. Yet just as she had done with every other challenge in her life, Sarah persevered, relying on her own inner strength and faith to carry her through to better days. When she was just 32 years old, her husband left for good, leaving Sarah to raise and provide for the children by herself. She found some cleaning jobs and other odd jobs, whatever work she could find, to provide for them. They were very poor, but the kids didn't know they were poor, they had their mother's love, and they were happy. Sarah always made sure they had a roof over their heads, and food on the table - especially food! She loved to cook Mexican food, and was an amazing cook. Eventually, Sarah saved enough money to buy her small, simple home, yet it was such a moment of pride for her. She had finally overcome the many challenges in her life, and come through it all a better, stronger, happier person. Sarah began to find the beauty in life, and the beauty in herself. She found many things she became passionate about, including fishing, tending to her wonderful garden and flowers, or dancing ... she enjoyed them all. She also loved her pets, which became such great company for her after her kids had all grown and gone their separate ways. Sarah was a wonderful mother, who raised her children with the same strength she possessed, and the same faith. She raised all her children in the church, and taught them to love the Lord as she did. They went off and started their own families, and her grandchildren were such a source of pride for Sarah, and she was very close to them, as well. In 1987, Sarah left Oklahoma, to move to Spring Lake, Michigan, to live with her daughter Delores due to her declining health, where she remained the rest of her days. She enjoyed Spring Lake, and became active in the Friendship Club, and loved the people there. She attended the club for many years, until her health deteriorated. She was also a proud member of the Spring Lake Chapel Church, and continued her love for gardening while in Spring Lake, growing beautiful flowers throughout the yard. She never had a driver's license, and was often content to stay home and tend to her beautiful flowers. Sadly, Sarah's health slowly began to decline, before she died of a stroke on Wednesday, September 27, 2006. She was a truly remarkable lady, a loving, hardworking, gentle woman, who overcame so many obstacles in her lifetime with uncommon courage and grace. Sarah was a beautiful person, but she taught us all that true beauty, and strength, comes from within. She will be so greatly missed. Mrs. Sarah V. Conterez, age 84, died Wednesday, September 27, 2006. She was born in McAlester, OK on December 16, 1921. SURVIVORS: 3 sons, Robert (Patricia) Conterez of IL, Richard (Juliet) Conterez of WA, Roy (Blanch) Conterez of IL; daughter, Delores (Golman) Eslick of Spring Lake; many grandchildren; many great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by 2 daughters, Mary & Rena Conterez; and by a son, Steven Conterez. SERVICE: Monday, October 2, 2006, 2 p.m. at Calvary Temple of Fruitport with Rev. Delbert Yoder officiating. Interment at Spring Lake Cemetery. VISITATION: Monday, 1 hour prior to the service at Calvary Temple of Fruitport. MEMORIAL: Feed The Children of The Phillipines and Grand Haven Humane Society. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book. Clock Life Story- Fruitport