Sabrina Celestine Fodera

Sabrina Celestine Fodera (née Knoppe), age 65, of Royal Oak, passed away on November 22, 2025. She will be warmly remembered for her natural beauty, kind spirit, friendliness, and her inquisitive, adventurous and spontaneous ways. Sabrina was always the thoughtful one, remembering everyone's birthday or anniversary. She possessed a beautiful captivating smile that truly lit up a room and had an engaging personality that naturally drew many people to her.

Born in Detroit on March 14, 1960, Sabrina grew up in Madison Heights, attending St. Mary Magdalene Grade School and graduating from Madison High School.

Sabrina began her career working as part of a co-op in the water department for the City of Madison Heights, where she performed key punch operations. She later became a bank teller at Wayne Oakland Bank, a job she cherished as it was there that she met her future husband, John. After taking time off to raise her children, she returned to banking at Fidelity Bank. In the years that followed she found fulfillment as a dedicated caregiver for two different individuals.

A true creative spirit, Sabrina was a gourmet cook who prepared dinners for her family with a passion. She possessed a huge green thumb, cultivating a garden that produced many types of vegetables and fruits, including her grapevine and rhubarb. Sabrina's yards were an impressive display of continuously blooming flowers of all types and many planted trees, including oak, ash, maple, two magnolias, lilac and evergreens.

Sabrina embraced the outdoors, especially enjoying camping with the camper she and John shared. She always looked forward to eating many, many marshmallows by the campfire. She loved hiking, often venturing off the beaten path, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to seek out hidden waterfalls. A lover of travel, she visited Mexico often and fulfilled a bucket list trip to Europe and New York provided by her two daughters. Sabrina also went on many trips to Florida with her Mom and sometimes with her Dad in tow. During her many trips to Mexico, she found joy in swimming and snorkeling in the clear waters of the Riviera Maya and Cozumel. Sabrina was known for getting dressed up every night for dinner and peacefully watching the sunrise each morning, no matter how late she stayed up the night before. She enjoyed good food and had a very diverse palate.

Her interests were also diverse; she enjoyed dancing, attending plays, many concerts, and the symphony. Sabrina enjoyed spending long hours visiting various museums. Train trips to Chicago were frequent. Possessing a keen sense of fashion and a flair for style, Sabrina was an avid smart shopper, spending countless shopping hours with her mom. She enjoyed an average of 50 bike rides a year with her husband. Together they watched late night movies weekly while she consumed her fair share of popcorn. Sabrina was always up to date on current and political events. She was extremely generous with charitable donations of many causes. Above all, Sabrina loved spending time with her large family and friends, and cherished being a grandmother.

Sabrina will be remembered as the beloved wife of 45 years to John Gerard Fodera. Loving mother of Andrea Michele Pack, Derrick Alexander Fodera, and Barbara (Menachem) Glazer. Dear daughter of Barbara Jean and the late George Leo Knoppe. Proud grandmother of Gabrielle, Evelyn, and Griffin Pack, and Avraham Glazer. Dear sister of George (Robin) Knoppe, Thomas Knoppe, Michele McLauchlan, Corinne (Christopher) Bilkie, and the late Joseph Knoppe. Loving sister-in-law to Samuel (Christine) Fodera, RoseAnn Fodera, Mary (Michael) Donaghue, William (Heidi) Fodera, Theresa (Mark) Zbozien, Nancy Gerich, Michael (Susan), and (late) Paul. Proud aunt of Benjamin, Lillian, Brittany, Caitlan, Tom, Shawn, Audrey, Hannah, Emily, Grace, Jeffrey, Addy, Joe, and AnnMarie, KateLynn, Jason, Jeff, Michael, Christopher, Amanda, Daniel, Jamila, the late Melanie, Johnny, Drew, Kyle, Isabel, Joshua, Seth, Chase, the late Angelina, and Preston . Further survived by many close cousins, great nieces and nephews and in-laws ....

Visitation for Sabrina will be held on Sunday, November 30th, from 3 - 8 p.m. (Scripture Service and Sharing of Memories at 6:00 p.m.) at Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Directors, 705 W. Eleven Mile Rd. (four blocks east of Woodward), Royal Oak. The Scripture Service and Sharing of Memories will be livestreamed at https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTc2Mzk0NDE4NDM4OTk3NiZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==.

A Funeral Mass for Sabrina will be celebrated on Monday, December 1st at 10:00 a.m. (visitation 9:30) at National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, 2100 Twelve Mile Rd., Royal Oak. Interment will follow at Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a contribution in honor or Sabrina, please consider a donation to ALS of Michigan: www.alsofmichigan.org.