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Sara Bervoets Tripiciano, age 90, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2026, in Mooresville, North Carolina. Sara Ann Bervoets was born on January 19, 1936, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Louis and Sarah (née Johnson) Bervoets. She was raised in Nashville and graduated from St. Bernard Academy in 1953. She went on to attend the Peabody School for Teachers at Vanderbilt University, where she prepared for a lifelong love of learning and service. Sara began her career as an educator, teaching in Key West, Florida, Bermuda, and Columbus, Ohio. While teaching in Bermuda, she met the love of her life, Patrick Paul Tripiciano. They were married on September 1, 1962, beginning a devoted partnership that spanned 63 years. Throughout their marriage, Sara and Pat made their home in Rochester, New York; Hacienda Heights, California; and Naperville, Illinois, where they raised their four daughters. While her primary role was that of a full-time mother, Sara also shared her love of children, books, and history as a children's librarian at Nichols Library and as a historical guide at Naper Settlement. Following Pat's retirement, the couple settled in Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. There, Sara was an active member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and enjoyed participation in garden and book clubs. She served as a student mentor through the Cumberland County School District and was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Colonial Dames of America. Sara had a deep appreciation for the arts, loved attending concerts and plays, and was an avid reader throughout her life. She was known for her kindness, warmth, and gracious spirit, and she instilled in her daughters the values of strength, independence, and thoughtfulness. Sara is survived by her beloved husband, Patrick Tripiciano, and their four daughters: Tricia Roh (Scott) of Neenah, Wisconsin; Paula Kelly (Tom) of Mooresville, North Carolina; Laura Tripiciano (Anthony Eshelman) of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota; and Monica Burrous (John) of Lafayette, Colorado. Her eight grandchildren also survive her-JC, Matthew, Kendall, Payton, Quinlan, Habtamu, Oliver, and Nicholas-as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Theresa Sutherland, and her brother Louis Bervoets. Funeral mass will be held at 11 AM, Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at St. Therese Catholic Church in the Day Chapel, located at 217 Brawley School Road, Mooresville, NC, with a reception to follow. Memorial contributions in Sara's memory may be made to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com) or to a charity of one's choice. Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the family of Mrs. Tripiciano. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.

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Sara Bervoets Tripiciano

January 19, 1936 - January 23, 2026