Sara J. Beamer

Sara J. (Kalbfus) Beamer, 85, formerly of Highland St., in Holden, died Friday, November 21, 2008 in the Sterling Healthcare Center, Sterling, after an extended illness.

She leaves two sons, John P. Beamer of Holden with whom she lived, and Michael C. Beamer of Munroe, Maine; two daughters, Pamela A. Rauh and her husband William of Princeton and Nina L. Holton and her husband Alanson of Holden; two brothers, James Kalbfus of Greensburg, PA and John "Jack" Kalbfus and his wife Dorothy of Pennsylvania; four grandchildren, Leah A. Holton of Holden, Nathan L. Brown and his wife Lory Skidmore and their son, Max Andrew William Brown all of Princeton, Elizabeth J. Brown and her husband Clarke Colon and their son, Levi O. Colon all of Waterbury Center, VT, and Michael A. Brown of Somerville; and nieces and nephews. A brother, Charles "Bud" Kalbfus, predeceased her. She was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, daughter of Charles W. and Nellie A. (Lyon) Kalbfus, and lived predominately in Holden from 1959 to the present.

Sara was a graduate of Greensburg High School and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was an accomplished musician and music teacher at Baylor University in Waco, Texas and at St. Gabriel Catholic High School in Worcester. She played the cello for Symphony Orchestras in Johnstown, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Utica, NY, and the Central Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra where she also toured Romania. A highlight of her career was performing with Luciano Pavarotti at the Worcester Centrum. She gave private lessons and was a member of the Worcester Music Student Club, Chapter AAPEO of Worcester, the First Congregational Church of Holden and volunteered in its Thrift Shop. She was an avid gardener and a member of the Holden Garden Club.

A private Memorial Service will be held at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Music Student Club of Worcester, payable to "Pamela Rauh", c/o Miles, P.O. Box 81, Holden, MA 01520.

www.milesfuneralhome.com