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In Loving Memory

May, Sarah Jane (nee Brennan)

Preceded in death by her husband of 65 years William Z. May, daughter Barbara May and son William B. May. She is survived by her children: Robert (Sharon) May, Aggie (Robert) Staebell, Joseph (Cindy) May, Marcie May, Mary (Mike) Steeno. Grandchildren Colleen May, Michael May, Bryan May, Kathleen (Joe) Logsdon, Mary May, Tom Steeno, Laura (Andrew) Schoenberg, Sarah Staebell, Lauren Merten, Patrick (Laura) May, Bridget (Matt) O’Hara, Corey (Lindsey) May. Great-grandchildren Hailey, Rosalie, Owen, Molly, Brennan, Scarlett, Claire, Conner, and Grant.
Sarah Jane was born on June 1, 1927 to John J. Brennan and Ida (Waters) Brennan ‘on the kitchen table’ according to family lore, in their farmhouse near Pacific Mo, because – ‘that’s what you did’.
She was raised on the farm with her older brother James, older sister Rosemary, and younger brother Jack. Like many Irish families in the area, they were self-sustaining but also depended on one another as a community in the parish of St. Patrick of Armaugh (The Old Rock Church).
Sarah spoke often of her cousins and extended families who lived on farms nearby– the McNamees, Phelans, Daileys, Buschers, Murphys, Cradicks and Mangans.
Sarah understood the joys of mischief- surely inspired by her fun-loving sister Rose, but tempered by the watchful eye of her more conservative brother James. She loved life on the farm as a child gathering eggs, feeding the pigs, milking cows and churning butter.
Sarah attended McNamee School – her uncle Joe McNamee was the schoolmaster, in the 1-room schoolhouse that still stands today as a single family residence on McNamee School Road. With all 8 grades in the same room, there were 6 in her graduating class.
As teens, Sarah and Rose attended St. Joseph’s Academy while residing with their aunt and uncle Doc and Anne (Brennan) McHugh on S. Kingshighway at Rhodes Ave.
Sarah learned to cope with tragedy when her father was injured in a car accident in 1937 at age 42, spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair. And her brother Jack was killed in a car crash at the age of 21.
While working in downtown St. Louis for the Wabash railroad, Sarah met her husband of 65 years, Bill May. They married in 1949 and raised 7 children. First in a cement block building in Pacific, moving to Normandy in the early 50s, then to Richmond Heights in 1960- 5 doors down from St. Luke the Evangelist church on Dale Ave.
Sarah was active on the school board at St. Luke’s where she met lifelong friend and confidant, the late Anna Brinley.
After raising her family, Sarah had the opportunity to serve as the manager of a Department of Revenue office (also known as the DMV). She served in that role for some 20 years, first in the Rock Hill office then moving to Deer Creek. Sarah gained many friends as she helped the often frantic mobs navigate the muddy waters of owning and operating a motor vehicle in Missouri.
Sarah and her sister Rosemary had a bond that is hard to describe. Rosemary and her husband Jack Reineck raised their 7 kids in south St. Louis as the May kids grew up in Richmond Heights. Sarah and Rose spoke at least once a day on the telephone and never lost their girlish enthusiasm when they were together. Their admiration for one another was palpable. The May and Reineck families are still very close today as a result, seeming more like brothers and sisters than cousins.
After Bill retired as an IBEW electrician, they moved to Crestwood where Sarah was active in ‘The Marthas’ at St. Justin parish and at Our Lady of Providence parish.
Intensely proud of her Irish heritage, she assumed the role of family archivist with the passing of her aunt Mary Brennan. With several binders of photos, documents and memorabilia, she contributed articles to other historians and co-authored a book of Brennan family history with her cousin Kathleen Brennan Danna.
Sarah was a devoted wife and mother, artist and musician.
The consummate grandmother, every Sunday all the kids and grandkids would gather at their home for a wonderful home-cooked meal, a few beers, and lots of laughs providing lasting memories.
Never a complaint and always calm but persuasive, she led by example and treated everyone like they were the only one in the room.
Sarah leaves a legacy of kindness and hope – guided by her upbringing and her faith, believing until her last breath that all people are ‘good’. She was an amazing woman and a great inspiration to so many. She will truly be missed, but her family and friends are blessed to have had her in their lives for so many years.

Memorial Service to be scheduled at a later date.

Memorial donations to: Saint Louis ARC, 1177 N. Warson Rd. Saint Louis, MO 63132  https://www.slarc.org/donate/

Condolences

24 thoughts on “May, Sarah Jane (nee Brennan)”

  1. Sarah Jane was always kind and patient.Her family will miss her sweet way and gentle laugh. Bill will be waiting for her along with all of her loved ones.
    Fondly,
    Nancy Spehr

    Reply
  2. Sarah Jane was always kind and patient.Her family will miss her sweet way and gentle laugh. Bill will be waiting for her along with all of her loved ones.
    Fondly,
    Nancy Spehr

    Reply
  3. My deepest sympathy to Sarah May family.
    Sarah was so kind, lovely, and fun. She will be greatly missed. The obituary shares so much detail about her life. Thank you!
    My prayers go out to the entire May family during this most difficult time.
    Love love
    Sandy Callier

    Reply
  4. My deepest sympathy to Sarah May family.
    Sarah was so kind, lovely, and fun. She will be greatly missed. The obituary shares so much detail about her life. Thank you!
    My prayers go out to the entire May family during this most difficult time.
    Love love
    Sandy Callier

    Reply
  5. All the May family are remembered in my thoughts and prayers.
    The obit was a beautiful tribute to a most beautiful woman…
    Sarah Jane was a true example of Christian love and caring, and so wise..
    She was a dear friend… She will be missed by many.

    Reply
  6. All the May family are remembered in my thoughts and prayers.
    The obit was a beautiful tribute to a most beautiful woman…
    Sarah Jane was a true example of Christian love and caring, and so wise..
    She was a dear friend… She will be missed by many.

    Reply
  7. What a wonderful legacy. Such a great loss to her family and all those whose lives she touched. Her laugh is in my ears, forever, and many of her recipes will be in my belly. God bless you all , Rest In Peace Sarah Jane. Your strength and love will live on forever.
    Laura Brozka

    Reply
  8. What a wonderful legacy. Such a great loss to her family and all those whose lives she touched. Her laugh is in my ears, forever, and many of her recipes will be in my belly. God bless you all , Rest In Peace Sarah Jane. Your strength and love will live on forever.
    Laura Brozka

    Reply
  9. To know Sara Jane was to love her. And always to laugh with her. That wonderful sense of humor, always a sparkle in her eyes. She was an integral part of the Parent Association of Bellefontaine Habilitation Center volunteers. Largely due to her influence, others including myself, joined up to become volunteers as well. Thank you for this lovely biography of a truly lovely woman.

    Reply
  10. To know Sara Jane was to love her. And always to laugh with her. That wonderful sense of humor, always a sparkle in her eyes. She was an integral part of the Parent Association of Bellefontaine Habilitation Center volunteers. Largely due to her influence, others including myself, joined up to become volunteers as well. Thank you for this lovely biography of a truly lovely woman.

    Reply
  11. Aunt Susie was a dear sweet person. She was always happy ,with a kind , encouraging word when you needed it. I had so many happy memories playing with Aggie , Marcy, Billy , and Mary Kay. I enjoyed running around your three-story house and spending the night. We always met up with the Reiniks. I will miss your Mom. She had a gift of hospitality. My prayers and sympathy are with all of the May family.

    Reply
  12. Aunt Susie was a dear sweet person. She was always happy ,with a kind , encouraging word when you needed it. I had so many happy memories playing with Aggie , Marcy, Billy , and Mary Kay. I enjoyed running around your three-story house and spending the night. We always met up with the Reiniks. I will miss your Mom. She had a gift of hospitality. My prayers and sympathy are with all of the May family.

    Reply
  13. Sarah May certainly leaves a beautiful legacy of love behind as she takes her reward with her Heavenly Father. May God be with all those she left behind.

    Reply
  14. Sarah May certainly leaves a beautiful legacy of love behind as she takes her reward with her Heavenly Father. May God be with all those she left behind.

    Reply
  15. Our heartfelt condolences to the May family. Pat and I have such wonderful memories of spending evenings around Anne McHugh’s kitchen table with Sarah Jane and Rosemary, reading letters and reminiscing over family stories. Sarah Jane was so special and a joy to be around. We will miss her dearly.

    Reply
  16. Our heartfelt condolences to the May family. Pat and I have such wonderful memories of spending evenings around Anne McHugh’s kitchen table with Sarah Jane and Rosemary, reading letters and reminiscing over family stories. Sarah Jane was so special and a joy to be around. We will miss her dearly.

    Reply
  17. Sarah Jane was one of the kindest people I knew. My Mom admired her as well. She left a great legacy behind with her wonderful family. I will have her and her family in my prayers.

    Reply
  18. Sarah Jane was one of the kindest people I knew. My Mom admired her as well. She left a great legacy behind with her wonderful family. I will have her and her family in my prayers.

    Reply
  19. Dear May family: I am so very sorry for your loss of Aunt Sis. I have a great memory of going to her house in Richmond heights with Leslie and Stacey and my sibs and painting ceramic figures. I also remember parties in this backyard and of course the horseshoe tournament. We were very touched when she attended my dad’s funeral. She was always held as a great role model and one to look up to and was dearly loved by all of the Don May family. She will be greatly missed.

    Laurie Fitzgerald

    Reply
  20. Dear May family: I am so very sorry for your loss of Aunt Sis. I have a great memory of going to her house in Richmond heights with Leslie and Stacey and my sibs and painting ceramic figures. I also remember parties in this backyard and of course the horseshoe tournament. We were very touched when she attended my dad’s funeral. She was always held as a great role model and one to look up to and was dearly loved by all of the Don May family. She will be greatly missed.

    Laurie Fitzgerald

    Reply

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