Sarah Knauer

1986 - 2025

Sarah (Witkowski) Knauer, 38, of Glen Lyon, Newport Township, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at home.

She was born July 1, 1986, in the former Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, to Bernard "Sonny" and Susan (Guzofsky) Witkowski. Sarah married the love of her life, Jason, on Oct. 7, 2017, after spending six years dating. Together, they shared a love for sports, movies, and anything pop culture. Sarah and Jason were each other's better half, despite their different taste in hockey teams.

In childhood, Sarah was an altar server, attended Bible school, and painted the altar cloths at St. Adalbert's Church in Glen Lyon. In elementary school, Sarah participated in a Christmas card-making contest and her design was selected as the winner. It was then sold to raise money for the Janet Weis Children's Hospital. In high school, she was selected as a freshman to be a back-up singer for Andy Williams' Christmas Show at the Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township. She also loved to play sports, including field hockey, soccer, Little League, cheerleading at St. Mary's Church in Nanticoke, and participating in the school chorus ensemble and drama stage crew. She took pride in playing Jack's mother and painting the cow for the school's performance of "Into The Woods."

Sarah graduated from Greater Nanticoke Area, Class of 2004, and earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy in 2011. After graduating, she was employed as a clinical pharmacist in Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township. She also taught pharmacy to students at Wilkes University as an adjunct professor. Most recently, she was employed in Geisinger's cardiology department. She was recently published in Cardiology Today's October edition.

Sarah's commitment and passion for her career was evident in the care she gave her patients and in the incredible, in-depth stories she could recite years later. Her immense intelligence shone through in everything she did. From her sharpness and quick wit, to her cleverly sarcastic sense of humor, she was a one-of-a-kind type of person.

Sarah will be remembered for her love for learning, reading — particularly "Gone With The Wind" and "Harry Potter" — and drawing, shopping, and cosmetic fashion. She really knew how to do her makeup.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Clem and Geraldine Guzofsky; paternal grandparents, Bernard and Anna Witkowski; cousin, Herman Olenginski; and fur-babies: Rascal, Indie, Georgia, Katie, and Bell.

She is survived by her loving husband, Jason; parents, "Sonny" and Susan, Glen Lyon; uncle and aunt, David and Eleanor Guzofsky, Nanticoke; mother-in-law, Donna Knauer, Pittston Township; numerous loving cousins; and fur-babies: Charlie, RB, and Bonny.

It does not seem possible to portray in words the truly extraordinary life that Sarah lived. She had a fierce determination to educate and better herself constantly, while being one of the most compassionate and caring people you could ever meet. The soul-deep love she had for her husband — that he returned absolutely — is what love stories are made of. She was the center of her parents' world. She will be missed deeply by so many.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday from George A. Strish Funeral Home, 211 W. Main St., Glen Lyon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in St. Adalbert's Church, Holy Spirit Parish, 31 S. Market St., Glen Lyon. Family and friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 9:30 a.m. to service time Wednesday at the funeral home.