With profound sadness we announce the passing of Sara Keough Jacoba (nee Bloxsom) on October 3, at age 98, our loving and devoted mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend.

Sara was born and raised on a small family farm in Aurora, N.Y., as one of nine children born to Sara (Purcell) and Martin Keough. She was predeceased by her siblings: Thomas, Mary, James, Joseph, John, Helen, Patricia, and Ann.

She faced many challenges with unerring courage, strength, resilience, and humor. After getting divorced, she continued to raise her 11 children, while working full-time, and somehow still committed herself to volunteering with hospice, the food bank, and more. She continued these acts of service well into her late 80s. Her selfless commitment to friends, family, and her community earned her an award for volunteerism in 2001. Sara’s generosity was unfailing. After receiving a blood transfusion following the birth of one of her children, she committed to giving blood and gave regularly for 50-plus years, donating more than 18 gallons.

Sara could find humor in most things, and would do anything for a laugh, but never at the expense of another’s feelings (well, there were a few exceptions). She loved innocent pranks and practical jokes to get a laugh and brighten someone’s day.

She loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally. When asked why she stopped having kids after number 11, her reply was “I finally got it right” (the first 10 are disputing that claim).

Sara was a lifelong Mets baseball fan and followed them closely since their inception in 1962. She knew all the players every year and made her own scorecards with ruler and pencil for nearly every game. She was also a huge Syracuse Basketball fan. All her children and friends knew never to call her when the Met’s or Syracuse were playing. When she retired, she remarried and enjoyed playing golf, going dancing with her late husband George (Jacoba), watching tournaments on TV, and was thrilled to volunteer at the LPGA in Rochester, N.Y.

Her love of Halloween was legendary. She made all her children’s costumes from things she had on hand, along with her own. She continued to dress up every year into her late senior years and would normally start planning the next year’s costume the day after Halloween. She kept her costume a secret until the big reveal (this year she was planning to be Mr Peanut). Some of her most well-loved costumes over the last decade included incredible likenesses of Colonel Sanders (KFC), Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Charlie Chaplin, and a garden gnome; gaining her many compliments and outright bursts of laughter over the complete transformation. Her love of Halloween continues in her grandchildren.

Sara loved to bake and made many wedding cakes and gingerbread houses for family and friends over the years. She adored her grandchildren and attended as many of their athletic games, graduations, and dance recitals as possible. Each was made to feel special and loved for who they were.

She would kiddingly say her occasional shot of Jameson’s Irish whiskey was partly responsible for her good health into her late 90s.

Sara is survived by her children: Trish (Gary) Chappell, Susan Bloxsom, Michael (Kathy) Bloxsom, Gene (Dale) Bloxsom, Sara Bloxsom, Nancy (Peter) Massicci, Tom (Libby Weber) Bloxsom, and Elizabeth Bloxsom (John Wade). She was predeceased by three of her children: daughter Kathleen Bennett and sons George and Timothy. She is survived by her grandchildren: Donald and Brian Dayhart, Brynn and Shawn Bennett, Alex Chappell, Chelsea and Katy Bloxsom, Peter and Anthony Massicci, Wyatt Bloxsom, and Rachael Bloxsom; and her two great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Luke Chappell. She was also predeceased by her granddaughter, Sara Beverly Bloxsom. Sara is also survived by many caring nieces and nephews, in particular Marty (Marianne) and Ann Keough, and many special family friends.

All are welcome to attend a celebration of Sara’s life to be held on October 31, from 11 am to 2 pm, at the Apple Station Winery, 5279 Cross Road, Cayuga, N.Y. In keeping with Sara’s wishes, this will be a celebratory event. She would love nothing more than for people to share favorite memories of her.

Memorial donations can be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, stjude.org, to help defeat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

To leave online condolences, messages for the family, or find additional information, please visit doranfuneralhome.com.