Sara “Ammini” Mathew (maiden name: John) was born on June 6, 1936 at the Vazhapillayeth Ollickal house in Vadasserikara, Kerala, India.

She completed her nursing degree in Madras and in the 1950s, tutored nursing students in Assam. She then obtained a degree in Public Health and Health Administration in Delhi.

In the early 1960s, Sara moved to Canada to pursue a master’s degree in Public Health Administration. There she met Mathai Mathew and they married in 1967. They moved to Florida together and lived there for a couple of years. During these years of traveling, they made innumerable lifelong memories and friendships.

In the mid-1970s, Sara and Mathai moved to Maryland where they started the foundation of their families. Over the next several years, Sara and Mathai welcomed their son, Sonie, and also helped their nieces and nephews to immigrate to Maryland. During that time, Sara worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Sara and Mathai welcomed the children of their nieces and nephews into their lives and family tree. Sara loved and supported Sonie and her great nieces and nephews through their graduations, birthdays, school functions, musicals and plays, sports games, and church events. She was an ever present rock in their lives and the children lovingly called her “Sonie Ammachi” in reference to her son, Sonie.

Sara was very involved in church, particularly the Martha Mariam Vanitha Samajam organization (MMVS - the women’s wing of the Indian Orthodox church). She loved listening to devotional malayalam songs and playing the piano and organ. She was an excellent cook as well, and made the most amazing zucchini bread and orange rum cake. Sara was also very health conscious - regularly attending water aerobics classes, doing yoga, and reading her various Prevention magazines (that oftentimes ended up at the homes of the other family members).

Sara was a dedicated wife, mother, aunt, friend, and follower of Christ throughout her entire life. Her boundless love has touched countless lives, enriching them in ways beyond measure.

Sara passed away on April 8, 2024. She will be greatly missed by her loved ones including her nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, church family, friends, and relatives. We are forever grateful for the love she has shown, as our lives have been profoundly bettered by her unwavering kindness and affection.