Sara Montemurri

Sara Montemurri passed from this world to eternal life on June 22, 2021. Born in Detroit on June 3, 1933, she was 88 and a longtime resident of Dearborn Heights. Preceding her in death were her parents, Angelo and Grace Montemurri, and her beloved brother Casmier and sister-in-law Ellen Lou. Sara fulfilled the life of a good Italian daughter, in service to her family and her church. From her big brother Cass, she learned how to drive and how to jitterbug. After she graduated from Mackenzie High School in 1951, she held several clerical, bookkeeping, and managerial positions at National Bank of Detroit branches. At the age of 30, Sara took a bold step to leave her parents in Detroit and move to California in search of new adventures. She drove the entire journey, with her mom and her aunt providing backseat encouragement and the occasional neck rub to counteract the stress. (It remains unclear which was more stressful, the encouragement or the drive itself.) While in California, Sara got wind of an opening at Flying Tiger Airlines. An aspiring world traveler, she dreamed of working in the airline industry and was delighted to secure a position as an accounting clerk at the cargo operator. She worked for Flying Tiger for more than thirty years, taking advantage of travel discounts that allowed her to visit Curacao, Spain, Italy, and Portugal. She treasured her visits to her ancestral homes in Gagliano Aterno and Polizzi Generosa, visiting the homes of her parents and grandparents and meeting her many cousins in Italy. Missing her niece and nephews, Sara was able to transfer her position to Detroit Metro airport in 1965. Her nieces and nephews delighted in hearing about the activities she witnessed while in a plane hangar and touring the inside of an enormous cargo plane. Retiring from Flying Tiger/Fed Ex in 1994, Sara began a second career at St. Sabina Catholic Parish in Dearborn Heights as a bookkeeper, where her keen attention to detail brought needed order to the accounts. She worked there for nearly 20 years. More importantly, the St. Sabina community became her second family, nurturing enduring friendships and Sara’s commitment to service. Sara loved music and her beautiful voice contributed to the alto section in the church choir. She also loved opera and was known to pop a CD into her computer and serenade her coworkers in the rectory for hours. A devotee of Jeopardy and Alex Trebec, Sara readily tested her knowledge, calling out the answers until her final days. If a heavenly newcomer has any influence, Sara hopes to steer the decision on the new host to Katie Couric. Sara is survived by her niece, Elizabeth (Roger) Lawrence, and her nephews, Steve (Maureen) Montemurri, Micheal (Sharon) Montemurri, David (Joette) Montemurri, and Thomas (Cathy) Montemurri, as well as grandnieces Lauren, Meghan, Katharine, Erin, Celia, Elise, and grand-nephew Christopher. She cherished her family and her friends: her caregivers Nancy and Micci; her lifelong friend Shirley #1 and her many friends from St. Sabina, but especially, Shirley #2 and Maria. Visitation Friday from 4:00-7:30 pm with a Rosary at 7 pm at Stanley Turowski Funeral Home, 25509 W. Warren, Dearborn Heights. Funeral Mass Saturday 11:00 am at St. Sabina Church, 25555 Ann Arbor Trail, Dearborn Heights. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Sabina Church or the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.