Sarah was a wonderful daughter, sister, aunty, godmother and friend. Always kind, modest, generous, loyal and caring. She never had a bad word to say about anybody and always saw the best in people. She had a great zest for life, a delightful personality and sense of humour, and an ever-present smile that lit up any room she entered. She was a very special and beautiful young lady.

Sarah was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer on 28 July 2015, aged just 41, having had vague gastro-intestinal symptoms for only three months. She had major surgery on 5 August to remove as much of the disease and affected areas as possible, but due to the extent and high grade of the cancer it was not possible to remove it all. She remained very ill in hospital for a month, enduring cardio-thoracic surgery to deal with fluid round her lungs and heart. She finally left hospital on 5 September after her first round of chemotherapy. 

Sarah’s first cycle of chemotherapy ended on New Year’s Eve 2015 and was amazingly successful – so much so that her consultant nicknamed her ‘Lazarus’! She spent the first half of 2016 recovering her strength before returning to work as an investment manager on a part-time basis in the July. However, by the November her tumour markers were rising again, so she underwent further chemotherapy, though on a different drug this time. The treatment reduced her tumour markers and symptoms, though was not as successful as the initial chemotherapy had been. In the spring of 2017 she started on a new type of drug, a PARP inhibitor, which she found difficult to tolerate. Despite this she was well enough to have her annual holidays in Venice in June and in Guernsey in August, though sadly she was too ill to go to Barbados in November. After a challenging few weeks she was admitted to hospital on 3 December 2017. She initially started to feel better and even managed to have the first dose of a new round of chemotherapy. But sadly it was not to be. Sarah died in hospital in the afternoon of Saturday 16 December, surrounded by her family.

During her illness Sarah remained positive throughout and was an inspiration to us all. Thanks to advances in medical science and the wonderful care of consultants, specialists and nurses, she was spared to enjoy nearly 2½ years of active life following her initial surgery. She was able to socialise with her many friends, watch her five nephews grow, return to work and enjoy family holidays in Venice, Barbados and Guernsey. For this we are truly thankful. 

Sarah loved her time in Guernsey. It was to Guernsey where she often said she would like to retire early and live – it was her spiritual home. One of her last requests in her final hours was to ask if we could have a bench installed in her memory somewhere at Vazon on Guernsey’s West coast. Her bench was in place this summer and is located at the Richmond end of Vazon, overlooking the beach where Sarah, her sister, brothers and their friends used to play as children. If you happen to be in Guernsey, go and sit on her bench and remember her.

As a family we have so many happy memories of our life with Sarah, and our lives will never be the same now she has gone.

Sarah – we love you and miss you so much, but we shall never forget you and the wonderful 43 years you shared with us.