Sarah Hoffman Allison

Smart, Witty, Brave and Intrepid, Kind and Curious

The Cheerful Stoic Sarah Hoffman Allison passed away March 1, 2026, in Bloomfield Hills Michigan.

Sarah was born in Allegan, Michigan, on January 20, 1931, daughter of Carl and Florence Hunt Hoffman. She earned a degree in Child Development and a Minor in Music from the University of Michigan.

She shared three children with Earl Lapp and was a devoted and loving mother. She was always encouraging her daughters, finding endless interest in each of them. Of her daughters, she would often say she loved them all the same but for different reasons. She and Earl were active members of the Birmingham Residents for Fair Housing, responsible for the ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race or religion in the sale of lease of real estate enacted by the Birmingham City Commission in 1967.

Sarah was a very involved parishioner at Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills and filled various positions including being a member of Vestry and co-director of the church school program. Later she became the Director of Admissions for Kingwood at Cranbrook.

Upon leaving Kingswood, she became the Executive Director for the Michigan Psychiatric Society. She enjoyed the Psychiatrists at the society and often quoted members long after she retired from her position. If asked how she would describe her position she would say with a smile, was the den mother.

In retirement Sarah and her second husband, Douglas F. Allison traveled extensively. They visited over 75 countries including Russia, Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana, Yemen, Iran and China just a year after the Tiananmen Square massacre. They enjoyed music and regularly attended the Detroit Symphony and were patrons of the Michigan Opera Theater.

Sarah was an avid reader and developed an eclectic library collection. She subscribed to different newspapers because she wanted "to know both sides of a story".

Sarah loved meeting and learning about new people, she would joke that she should have been a reporter. She enjoyed and valued differences in people.

In later years, she resided at Cedarbrook Senior Living, she often would comment on what a lovely community it was filled with smart and interesting people many of whom became valued friends. She loved being a long-time member of the community's breakfast club.

When times were tough, she had a stoic cheerfulness and would push through problems by facing them head on.

Sarah was proud of her small hometown, her family and friends and her church.

Sarah is survived by her sister Evelyn Keck, her daughters Sarah Lapp and Cynthia Lapp of Seattle and Elizabeth Colombo and son-in-law Antonio Colombo of Rome Italy.

Though our hearts are broken we are also filled with gratitude for having had her in our lives. She will be forever loved, always missed, and never forgotten.

A Memorial Service to be held April 18th, 10:00 am at Christ Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hils. There will be a reception to follow at 12:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, to honor Sarah's lifelong work of building bridges of understanding with compassion and her love of difference and diversity we are inviting contributions to the Sarah Allison Fund at Christ Church Cranbrook. Please make checks payable to Christ Church Cranbrook with Sarah Allison Fund in the memo line.