Sarah Piligian, longtime resident of Saratoga, passed away peacefully on October 1, 2021, at the age of 91.

Sarah was born in Whitinsville, Mass., to Peter and Serarpe Johnson, the youngest of three children.  She graduated from Northridge High School in 1948 and after graduating worked in the administration office at the Pfeiffer Shoe Co. in Worcester.  She was active in the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), and it was at an AYF function in 1950 that she met the love of her life, Paul Piligian.  They were married in September 1951 and lived in Franklin, Mass. where Paul was a poultry rancher with his father and brother. During this time, Sarah worked at a local automobile dealership as the head bookkeeper.  Over the next several years, they welcomed three children, Gregory and twins Susan and Paula.  Sarah demonstrated her great energy and skills managing the household with the young children while Paul worked on the ranch and attended night classes at Northeastern University.  They began the first of four cross-country moves in 1963 when Paul accepted a sales position with IBM in Cincinnati, Ohio; followed in quick succession by Brookfield, Wisconsin (1966) and Westfield, New Jersey (1968).  Sarah was the rock who kept everything moving ahead with aplomb, taking care of the details of the move, and settling into their new home.  Sarah looked forward to each new location as an adventure while also maintaining close relationships with the extended family back in New England.

In 1968, the family settled in Saratoga.  It was here that Sarah put down roots to become an active and long serving member of the community.  Central to this was her and the family's membership at Saratoga Presbyterian Church (now Menlo Church-Saratoga).  At SPC, Sarah served in a variety of roles, including Deacon, volunteering in the Church office and in the Women's Bible Study. Sarah demonstrated her deep Christian faith through her dedication to service.  For over 10 years, she and Paul volunteered teaching English as Second Language classes through Sacred Heart Community Service.  In addition, she coordinated securing and delivering meals for the Julian Street Inn; as well as fundraising support for the Ming Quong Home, Newcomers, and several other community organizations.

Sarah was a devoted mother, especially advocating for Susan and Paula and their needs over the years.  She was equally active and involved as a grandmother to Nicole and Alexis; serving as a role model for the successful adults they have become. Through it all, she and Paul were devoted partners for 70 years of loving marriage.  Sarah had an infectious smile and a loving approach to all who knew her with dash of spunkiness and almost indefatigable energy.  She enjoyed interacting and learning about new people she encountered; and made friends with everyone she met.  Her spirit remained strong even as the progression of dementia robbed her of her speech and ability to walk in her final years.

Sarah was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Serarpe Johnson; and brothers Papken and Michael Johnson.  She is survived by her loving husband, Paul; children Gregory (Lorraine), Susan and Paula; and grandchildren Nicole and Alexis; as well as a host of extended family and friends across the country.  She was truly one of a kind and will be missed by all who knew her.

A private funeral service for immediate family was conducted on October 9.  A Celebration of Life for extended family and friends is scheduled for Saturday, November 6, 2021, at 11:00am.  The Celebration will be held at Menlo Church-Saratoga, 20455 Herriman Avenue, Saratoga.  For additional information, please see the Alameda Family Funeral website, www.funeralcremation.com

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests your donation in Sarah's memory to the charity of your choosing.