Obituary of Sarah Elizabeth Parker

Sarah Elizabeth Parker, 90 years of age, passed away early Saturday afternoon, August 17, 2024 at Noyes Memorial Hospital in Dansville, NY. Sarah was born April 6, 1934 in Gorham, NY, to John Bernard and Mamie (Williams) Somerville. She grew up in and around the Romulus, NY area, graduating from Romulus Central School. Sarah and Richard Parker, Sr. were married September 4, 1952, and together celebrated over 41 years of marriage prior to Richard passing away in April of 1994. Richard was in the United States Air Force before being ordained a minister in the Nazarene Church. His military duty and calling to the church resulted in their residing in many different areas throughout the years. Following his graduation from college in 1959, most of their pastorates were in the Finger Lakes region of New York (Brooktondale, Cortland, Alfred) with a 2-year pastorate in Bethel Maine. They retired from full-time ministry and resided in Howard New York for 20 years, until Richard's passing. Following that Sarah traveled for 2 years with Crofford-Parker Ministries. She then lived with her youngest daughter and spouse for about 28 years while they pastored churches in Delaware and Maryland. She had recently returned to New York to stay with her sons in Cohocton and Howard. Throughout the years, Sarah’s hobbies were many. While in high school she enjoyed different sports and playing the saxophone. She loved riding horses; travelling (she knew someone everywhere she went); and no one in her family can forget that a staple of her diet was “McDonalds” food! Sarah’s faith and church were very important to her as evidenced by them being the center of her life. The amount of times she missed church could be counted on one hand, unless she was in the hospital! She loved to sing at church, teach Sunday School and Bible Quizzing. She lived for and loved to teach her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many other family and friends. She loved her family dearly and had a true concern for others. Throughout the years, Sarah enjoyed membership in many churches but the majority of time in her later years was spent at Real Life Wesleyan in Mechanicsville, MD and Lighthouse Wesleyan in Wayland, NY. Sarah was pre-deceased by her parents, J. Bernard and Mamie Somerville; her husband, Richard L. Parker Sr.; her infant daughter, Donna Parker; along with 8 siblings and their spouses. She is survived by her children-Dr. Richard L., Jr. (Mary) Parker of Bath, NY , Debra (Dwight) Landers of MA, Randy (Rhonda) Parker of N. Cohocton, NY, Ronald (Karen) Parker of FL, Diane (Reverend Todd) Crofford of MD and Reverend Robert (Reverend Cheryl) Parker of Springwater, NY, 21 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Sarah’s family and friends are invited to her memorial service on Friday August 23, 2024, at 3pm at the Lighthouse Wesleyan Church, 101 S. Lackawanna St., Wayland, NY. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family.