Sara Ledwidge

Sara Renee Ledwidge is the ray of sunshine that was gifted to us on November 26, 1987, in the town of Armada, Michigan. Sara is survived by her beloved parents Jim Ledwidge and Elaine Malburg, and her cherished brother Derek Ledwidge. Adored niece to Marilyn Waelchli (Harold), Kathy (Chris) Pauwels, Ronald (Ann) Malburg, Thomas Malburg, Kenneth (Amy) Malburg, Clifford Malburg, Terry (Luanne) Malburg, Randy Malburg (Carol) and Renee (Jeff) Shull. During her lifetime, Sara was treasured and dearly loved by many cousins, friends, and especially by her pooch Finn! Sara is predeceased in death by grandparents Chuck and Aggie Ledwidge, grandparents Wilfred and Gladys Malburg, uncle Gerald Malburg, and aunts Kathleen Malburg and Ej Malburg. Sara graduated from Armada High School in Armada, MI., where she loved and excelled at playing team sports, especially softball and volleyball. Sara’s love of sports, coupled with her athletic ability, would have her continuing to play travel softball and volleyball through adulthood, while also adding flag football to her sports roster. In high school Sara was often affectionately referred to as ‘Little Ledwidge’ to distinguish her from her ‘Big Brother Derek!’ After graduation Sara ventured off to Mt. Pleasant, MI., where she attended Central Michigan University, ‘Fire Up Chips!’ Sara proved to have great scholastic ability and achievement as well, earning a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science degree, that required of her advanced mathematics, statistics, financial theory and passing a rigorous, multi-year series of professional examinations. Sara was proud of her high school and college achievements, but what she valued most was the lifelong friends, memories and heartfelt bonds that were created during these years. When it came time for Sara to spread her wings and fly, she flew all the way to Denver, CO. and has stated, it is where she felt ‘most at home.’ Sara embraced the majesty of the mountains; finding the peace, adventure and strength found in nature’s highest peaks. Nature had a profound influence on Sara, birthing the outdoor enthusiast in her that would become a defining characteristic of her life. As Sara developed a deep connection with the wilderness, her life related to the John Muir quote, ‘The mountains are calling and I must go!’ Mountains became a constant inspiration and renewal for Sara’s spirit and so began her journey of hiking, and the world revealing itself ‘to those who travel on foot.’ Sara was an outdoor enthusiast at heart, but it was her pure, loving and generous heart that she gifted us with the most. Sara’s first hiking partner was her pooch Finn, who she adopted from the Animal Rescue of the Rockies, and together these two gals had a date with destiny! They trekked the mountains alongside one another sharing the cool, crisp mountain air and the invigorating scents of the vibrant mountain wildflowers, Finn was Sara’s utmost faithful and loyal companion. The unconditional love Sara and Finn shared together prompted Sara to volunteer as a foster dog parent, not only with the Animal Rescue of the Rockies, but also with, 2 Blondes All Breed Rescue in the Denver metro area. Sara would temporarily open her home, providing a safe and loving environment for shelter dogs waiting for their permanent, ‘fur-ever’ home. After Sara recruited Finn as her hiking partner, she then also recruited her mom, dad and brother! Family was of profound importance to Sara, and she created some of her dearest memories hiking the Colorado mountains with her immediate family. Jokingly, when Sara concluded there was not enough mountains in Denver to hike, she found herself on the mountains of Utah, Hawaii, Nepal, and yes…Mt.Everest! It was the mountains of Utah and Hawaii that Sara, her mom, and brother Derek would take their ‘annual hiking trip’, where they ventured out into the wilderness with Sara and adopted her love of the outdoors, capturing stunning panoramics of mountain landscapes, pictures worth a thousand words, that are now held close to heart. Sara’s warm heart for volunteering also extended globally as she made two trips abroad with Global Dental Relief (GDR), a Denver-based non-profit organization that provides free dental care to children in underserved communities worldwide, including Nepal and Cambodia. Supporting this organizations mission is where Sara had the once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Nepal and the ultimate destination for mountaineering, the crown jewel, Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth! Sara volunteered for GDR in Cambodia as well, while also taking several other global adventures to Thailand, Ireland, Prague, Rome and Italy. Sara’s life became a testimony to, ‘It’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with.’ (C.M.Schulz) And as the sojourn of life can do, it can bring one to unimaginable crossroads. A distinct marker in Sara’s life occurred in 2019 when she was diagnosed with a malignant Astrocytoma, a type of cancerous brain tumor. Metaphorically, this would be the largest mountain yet that Sara was to climb, and true to her warrior spirit, she faced the challenge with grit and grace. From 2019-2026 Sara underwent x2 brain surgeries and x3 cancer reoccurrences, with the final reoccurrence having included radiation. From day one of the medical diagnosis, and with each surgery and reoccurrence, Sara fought from her never ending well of strength, perseverance and resolve, rising to face each experience with courage and her real life Shero quality. Unfortunately, the last reoccurrence Sara experienced greatly impacted her functional capabilities resulting in significant right sided weakness of her body, reduced mobility, loss of fine motor skills, speech impairment and language issues, all of which followed with very rigorous and demanding rehabilitation therapies for Sara. Sara’s life journey has been a remarkable one, and since receiving the Astrocytoma diagnosis it has been anything but traditional or predictable for her. Her experience has been the road less traveled, the heroine’s journey, and Sara bravely made the profound commitment in 2019 to a very difficult path, a path that most will never have to take, or possess a true understanding of. Others may have walked it with her, but unfortunately no one could walk it for her. Our Sara, the larger than life, mountain climbing girl with an unequaled passion for life, was now living what felt for her a diminished quality of life, having had lost the ability to influence life’s direction, living without control over her life’s outcome, and understandably so, she grew tired. She was climbing the never-ending mountain, without a summit to ever be in sight. On May 24, 2026 Sara reclaimed her self-sovereignty, and she found her way to the path of freedom and peace as she released herself from this physical experience and the emotional burden she was enduring. Sara is the most beloved daughter to her parents Elaine and Jim, and the most cherished sister to her brother Derek, who are so proud of her strength and who will now forever honor her life, for the rest of theirs. From all your family, your lifelong friends, your Denver friends, your countless friends across the globe, and Finn, thank you Sara. Thank you for sharing your fearless, indomitable spirit with us. Thank you for the privilege it has been to be surrounded by your outstanding inspiration and noble qualities. Thank you for showing us how to walk a difficult path with grit and grace. Thank you for teaching us how to make honorable decisions, and how to appreciate that sometimes the person’s pain in staying, was greater than the pain of leaving. Thank you for providing us with your generous heart, radiant spirit and light. Most of all, Sara, thank you for your beautiful smile, your smile provides the energy spark to light the night sky, and we will forever bask in its Afterglow. We honor you, we honor your journey, and we stand in admiration. We will see you in the sunshine or in the crisp morning air, we will see you in the garden or on our travels from here to there! Our Dearest Sara, enjoy the most beautiful mountain summit that your eyes have ever seen, and the endless vibrant bursts of wildflowers blooming with freedom and peace! ‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you.’~Isaiah 54:10 *In lieu of flowers, those who wish to express sympathy, please consider making a donation to the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center in Sara’s name: https://www.henryford.com/services/brain-tumors/hermelin-brain-tumor-center-giving A special note of appreciation: The family of Sara wishes to express their immense gratitude and heartfelt appreciation for the generous amount of love and support they have received during this time, and through the entirety of Sara’s journey. A Celebration of Life for Sara will be held on Sunday June 7th, 2026 at the St. Clair Inn, 500 N. Riverside Avenue, St. Clair, MI, from 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm.

Sara Ledwidge

November 26, 1987 - May 24, 2026