Sara Keyak

Sara Keyak passed away on November 1, 2022, at the age of 94. Beloved wife of the late Karl S. Keyak. Loving mother of Leslie J. (wife Kim) Keyak, Joyce H. Keyak and Marlene G. (husband Michael) Smith. Adored Grandmother, Baba, of Adam K. Smith, Levi L., Ian L. and Kolin L. Keyak. Daughter of the late Lillian (Luba) and Aron Berg. Cousin of Sylvia Ensinger, the late Steven Edelglass, and the late Sylvia Bonnell. Cherished “Aunty Sara” to many.

Sara was born March 14, 1928 in San Francisco. She learned to play piano at age 8 and her musical experiences throughout her formative years led to music having a significant role throughout Sara’s life. She was happily married to Karl Keyak from 1951 until he passed in 1991. Sara was a member of National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) her entire adult life. She was an NCJW board member for many years and was involved in their advocacy programs on the local, state and federal levels. She organized NCJW Study Groups for over 30 years and was honored with the NCJW Woman of the Year Award in both 1986 and 2011 and the President’s Award in 2014.

Sara devoted herself to her family, her parents, her husband, her children and her grandchildren. When her kids were small, Sara was PTA president. When they were grown, she worked in their businesses and helped them in any way she could. When her daughters moved away, she visited them often and stayed with them and their families. When her triplet grandchildren were born, she visited with them weekly to read to them. Even though her house was too big for her as she aged, she stayed there, in part, so that her family could always stay with her when visiting San Francisco.

It was important to Sara to be active and independent for as long as possible, so she could continue to work and to help others, a legacy of which she was proud.

Funeral Services were held at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park. Contributions to National Council of Jewish Women, San Francisco Section, 2000 Van Ness Avenue Suite 411, San Francisco, CA 94109, or San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 50 Oak St, San Francisco, CA 94102.