Sarrah Hasten

Sarrah Hasten, 84, of Newton Centre, passed away on November 3, 2024, after a recurrence of cancer. A beautiful graveside service was held on November 5, 2024, at Sons of Abraham Cemetery, 776 Baker Street, West Roxbury. It was a sunny day in a tree-lined grove with birds singing and Sarrah’s closest family and friends in attendance. Sarrah was laid to rest by her daughter Leora Yvonne Hasten, who died in 2001. Sarrah is survived by her daughter Jana Hasten Finder, Esq. and son-in-law Jonathan Daniel Finder, MD, her grandsons Zachary Michael Finder of Denver and Benjamin Ari Finder of Memphis, and cousins Cheryl and Richard Hermann of Chestnut Hill.

Sarrah was born on March 16, 1940, in China to Russian parents and grew up in Auckland, New Zealand. At age 18, she made aliyah by herself to Tel Aviv, where she met her ex-husband Jacques Hasten. They married in 1959 and emigrated to New York. Sarrah and Jack lived in Queens, where their two daughters were born and in 1973, the family moved to Newton Centre after Jack accepted a position with an optical laboratory in Cambridge. When Jack opened Piccadilly Opticians, Sarrah helped run the business and was in the shop daily for many years.

In recent years, Sarrah was passionate about her elections work for the City of Newton. She was a devoted patron of the arts and of public radio, was an avid reader, and a longtime attendee of the Boston and Newton Symphony Orchestras. Sarrah was a compassionate animal lover who took care of stray cats and other species and donated to many animal rescue charities. She adored her big white cat who accompanied her to assisted living after hip surgery and thereafter to her new apartment.

The family would like to thank the following friends and relatives for their love and friendship, emotional support, and selfless assistance provided to Sarrah and Jana over the years: Vivian Teyssedou, Sarrah’s best friend for 60 years, Vivian’s son Alan, his wife Lindsay, and their girls Jocelyn and Lilah, Vivian’s son Darren, his wife Michele, and their boys Joshua and Sebastien, all of whom lovingly included Sarrah in all of their family holidays and celebrations. Talia Keren, who became very close to Sarrah in recent years. Cousins Cheryl and Richard Hermann, Stacey & Michael Smalley, and Julie Silver, whose spontaneous rendition of “Oseh Shalom” at Sarrah’s funeral was extremely moving. Many thanks also to Arlene Hecht, Sam Fogel, Patrick Kennelly, Richard Kagan, Sarrah’s other Newton Elections colleagues, and the wonderful staff at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, especially Courtney & Cookie, Dr. David Cheng, and Dr. Paul Kenyan.

Donations may be made to the MSPCA, the Humane Society or other animal rescue organization: for more ideas, go to: https://searchtools.adoptapet.com/blog/shelter-rescue/pet-charities