Sara Marion Godvik

Sara was a devoted wife, a loving mother, a compassionate animal advocate, and a person whose warmth, humor, adventurous spirit, and generosity left an indelible mark on the lives of those fortunate enough to know her.

Sara was something extraordinarily rare. As her husband, Chris would describe - Sara was not only his forever love, but also his very best friend. Their relationship was filled with genuine friendship, laughter, silliness, and the simple joy of being together. They could share things with each other that other couples might have been too uptight about, laugh about them like old friends, and find genuine fun in everyday life. Their love was not simply about romance—they truly loved being around one another, giggling at silly things and experiencing the world together.

Sara was an extraordinary mother to her daughter, Avery. She devoted countless hours to helping Avery learn words, numbers, mathematics, and another language. Before even reaching the age of five, Avery was already reading intermediate English passages, recognizing and understanding signs around her, trilling her Rs perfectly, and knowing many Spanish words. Sara understood that Avery was bright, but she also poured herself into helping her daughter reach her potential. She took Avery on walks, to the park, the pool, the mall, and countless other places, always making time for quality experiences together. Sara gave motherhood her whole heart, and she was, in every sense, an exceptional mother.

Sara's love for animals was profound. Throughout her career as a veterinary technician, through her work with the Humane Society, and in caring for the many beloved pets that became part of her family's life, she found deep meaning in helping animals. She once shared a quote that perfectly captured her philosophy: “Saving one dog will not change the world, but for that one dog, the world will change forever.” Her compassion and commitment to animals were among the many qualities that made her so deeply loved.

Sara also believed in helping others. She happily volunteered her time preparing meals for hungry people at church alongside her father, Alison, and the many other people who gave their time in service to others. She understood that kindness was not merely something to talk about, but something to practice. Through her generosity and service, she truly left the world a better place than she found it.

Sara and Chris shared an adventurous and spontaneous life together. Their relationship began in an unlikely way, after Sara had followed him on Twitter. He hesitated to reach out because he assumed she was probably a thousand miles away—and as it turned out, she was. Yet only two weeks later, they decided to meet, asking themselves, “What’s halfway between Wisconsin and Texas?” That spirit of spontaneity became a defining part of their life together.

Sara could turn an ordinary moment into an adventure. When a work goodbye party in St. Louis seemed impossible because it was a five-hour drive and the event was the next day, Sara simply asked, “Why not let’s just go?” When a flight from Madison to Dallas was canceled, she didn't want to sit around waiting for another flight. Instead, they decided to drive, setting off and traveling 15 hours straight through the night. Sara embraced life with an adventurous spirit and a willingness to simply go for it.

One of their boldest adventures was their dream of moving to Mexico. Although circumstances ultimately prevented them from living there as much as they had imagined, they made their house there into a home, formed friendships, and created memories that would remain precious.

Sara also poured herself into making her home a warm and loving place. She was especially excited about their home in Janesville and enthusiastically tackled the challenges that came with it, including an overgrown backyard and a neglected swimming pool. She spent countless days chopping and clearing vines and branches and bringing the pool back to life. She took tremendous pride in caring for their home and family, and those around her never failed to appreciate all that she did.

During the final year of their life together, Sara and Chris also became deeply grounded in their shared relationship with Hashem, the God of Abraham. They observed Shabbat on Fridays and spent much time discussing their spiritual growth, the purpose of their lives on Earth, and their hopes and understanding of the afterlife. Sharing those beliefs and that spiritual journey together was deeply meaningful to them.

Music also became part of the story of their love. They had several songs that belonged to them, but one song in particular became their song: “Patience.” The song carried special meaning because nearly half of their relationship had been long-distance, requiring them to wait and be apart from one another. Years later, revisiting a comment that had been left on the song's YouTube video brought those memories flooding back.

Sara's husband holds onto the promise contained in that song—not simply as a song about waiting, but as a reminder that their separation is not forever. He believes that after his own time on Earth is complete, he will see his sweetheart again. It may be the longest wait they have ever endured, but the love they shared makes that hope enduring.

Sara lived with an open heart. She loved deeply, laughed freely, cared fiercely, served others, cherished animals, and embraced adventure. Most of all, she loved her family. The life she built with the people and creatures she cared for was a testament to the depth of her compassion and the immense capacity of her heart.

Sara leaves behind a legacy of love that will continue through Avery and Alison, through her family and friends, through the animals she helped, and through every person whose life was made better by knowing her.

She will be profoundly missed, forever loved, and always remembered.