Sara Jane Austin

Sara Jane Austin, 88 of Herndon, VA, passed away on November 15, 2023, at Mary Washington Hospital.

Born in Glencoe, PA on July 2, 1935, she was the proud daughter of Sam and Elsie Poorbaugh. Her father, always mischievous, set off firecrackers and in a way, set the tone of her life as she was small but fiery and fun. She was raised on the family farm with her beloved brothers and sisters in Glencoe, where work was plenty, life was hard, but love and family infused all and built the foundation of her life. She was always grateful and grounded in her upbringing. Sara attended Berlin Brothers Valley High school and following graduation, moved to Washington, D.C. She went on to Mississippi and settled in Los Angeles, CA. In 1969, Sara returned to Virginia to be closer to her family and raise her two daughters, Angie and Cindy. She worked as a bookkeeper for over 50 years at Sherman’s Poultry (CA), RC Nehi Bottling Company (VA) and American Medical Student Association (VA). She was proud of working hard and always gave it her all as is evident by the fact that she continued working full time until age 75. She was an active member of Saint Joseph (Herndon, VA) and Saint Veronica (Chantilly, VA) Catholic churches.

After retirement, she took great joy in cleaning and ironing the church linens. It truly was a labor of love and brought her such peace to serve the Lord and his followers. She was an active member of the community serving the local community thrift shop as well as providing rides, shopping, doctor visits for those in need. Besides the transport, she got to know all she helped and did her best to lift their spirits and let them know someone cared. Her smile and laughter lifted many hearts. Her greatest joy was her family. She was the glue that held her children/grandchildren/great grandchildren together, always around for jokes, laughter, or a bowl of creamy whenever it was needed, and often times just because. She rarely missed sending a birthday card to her extended family.

She is survived by her daughter, Cindy Austin; son-in-law, Ed Miller; grandchildren, Christopher (Amanda) and Nikki Jones; great-grandchildren, William, Gabriel, and Maddie Jones; siblings, Mary Garlitz, Dorothy Rhone, Richard Poorbaugh (Nancy), Bonnie Mulvihil; sister-in-law, Sissy Poorbaugh, and many BELOVED nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and -nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sam and Elsie Poorbaugh; siblings Betty Snow (Joe), Sam Poorbaugh (Darlene), and Ray Poorbauh; brothers-in-law Elwood Gartliz and Ray Rhone; and her beloved daughter, Angie Miller.

The family will receive loved ones from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, November 20, 2023 (vigil service will be held at 5:45 p.m.) and 9 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 21 at Deaner Funeral Home, Berlin, PA. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 21 at Saint Gregory Catholic Church, Berlin, PA. Rev. Stephen Shin OFM., Cap.-Pastor will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Glencoe, PA.

In Lieu of Flowers, please consider making donations to the National Kidney Foundation or any organization that feeds those who are hungry (feeding the hungry was very important to Sara).