Sarah Katherine (Matern) Alles Memorial Video

Sarah Katherine (Matern) Alles, 64, of Hanover, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, July 3, 2021, at John's Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. She was the loving wife of Gregory D. Alles; together they shared forty-three years of marriage.

Born Sunday, December 16, 1956, in Detroit, MI, Sarah was a daughter of the late Rev. John V. Matern and Dorothy E. (Gaertner) Matern. She grew up in St. Louis Park, MN, Boston, MA, White Plains, NY, and Valparaiso, IN, and took degrees from Valparaiso University (classics, theology) and York College of Pennsylvania (nursing). She began her nursing career as a labor and delivery nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital and continued her career working at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. There she was a nurse in the Cardiac Surgery ICU for over twenty years, touching the lives of many patients, family members, and colleagues. She enjoyed travel, visiting Bermuda, Bhutan, Canada, India, Japan, and many countries in Europe, where she and her husband developed many close friendships. In addition to being an avid reader, her hobbies included solving crosswords, hiking, especially day hikes on the Appalachian Trail from Virginia to New York, and gardening. She was particularly fond of roses, and over the years she grew more than one hundred different varieties. Growing up in a musical family, she played the piano, took singing lessons, and developed a beautiful soprano voice. Above all, her life revolved around her children and grandchildren, whom she loved dearly.

In addition to her husband, Sarah is survived by four children, Mary Elissa (Alles) Robinson and her husband Kevin E. of Wallingford, Timothy John Alles of Philadelphia, Cassandra Christel (Alles) Anderson and her husband Adam D. of Bethesda, MD, and Zachary Michael Alles and his partner Athena R. Sweeten of Denver, CO; three grandchildren, Bryce Edward Robinson, Sophia Christelle Anderson, and Owen Thomas Anderson; two siblings, Ted Matern and his wife Carlynn of Brooklyn, NY, and Betsey (Matern) Foley and her husband Dennis of Vail, CO; two sisters-in-law, Mary A. Bird Matern of Chesterton, IN, and Karen (Alles) Prante and her husband Gerald of Houston, TX. Sarah is also survived by loving nieces Claire, Jeanette, Erin, Jeri Lynn, and Lindsay, a wonderful nephew Jacob, and many cherished extended family members and friends.

In addition to her parents, Sarah was preceded in death by a brother, Dan Matern.

There will be no public viewing. Following cremation, a memorial service to celebrate Sarah's life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 7, 2021, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 30 W. Chestnut St., Hanover, PA, with Rev. Dr. Daniel M. Yeiser and Rev. Faye Snyder officiating. A time to share memories with the family will precede the service, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the church. Following the service, a luncheon will be held at Bay City Seafood Restaurant, 110 Eisenhower Dr., Hanover.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Building, 401 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21287, or to the Brauer Museum of Art, Center for the Arts, 1709 Chapel Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46383, or to St. Matthew Lutheran Church at the address listed above.

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