Oneonta - WALTON - Sara Johnston Rigas, 87, of Walton passed away peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. Sara was born on Oct. 31, 1936, in Cleveland, and is the daughter of the late Arthur and Bridget Johnston of Willoughby, Ohio.

Growing up in Willoughby, Sally loved to read and spend time with her brothers, Richard, William, and Bruce. She graduated from Willoughby Union H.S., and attended Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio.

In college, she met her husband, Lawrence Rigas, also a Muskie. They married in February 1956, in Zanesville, Ohio. They settled in the town of Walton, to raise their children.

Sara was honest, unpretentious, and passionately kind, and naturally embraced her Scottish-born mother's stoicism.

Working as a reading teacher at Townsend Elementary School brought her joy. She talked about her colleagues and students with pride.

Sara was committed to raising her children with manners and kindness.

She loved Larry and supporting him provided a welcomed source of purpose and happiness. As a mother, she was active in her children's lives, and was a source of stability.

Khalil Gibran's words best depict Sara's parenting: "Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth."

As much as she adored her work and family, she was also committed to her community. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Ladies Circle, deacon, and volunteer at the church; 4-H leader; bowling coach; and Sunday school teacher. One of her favorite pastimes was with the Walton Women's Bowling League with many of her closest friends. She eagerly awaited their trips to statewide competitions. When her children and grandchildren attended school, she went to every sporting event and horse show, often alongside Larry.

Sara is survived by her loving children, Steve Rigas, Walton, Susan (John) Tucciarone, Toronto, Canada, Arthur (Heidi) Rigas, Oneonta, Margaret (Marc) Adam, Walton, Richard Rigas, Wilmington, North Carolina and Bridget Rigas (Neil Davis), Williamstown, Massachusetts; grandchildren, Robbie (Allie) Rigas, Concetta Tucciarone (Brandon VanTol), Lucas (Kristi-Anne) Tucciarone, Morgan Rigas (Taylor Dodson), Zachary Rigas, Molly Rigas, Matthew Rigas, Kyle Besemer (Jillian Skidmore-Besemer), Erik Besemer (Stephanie Morgan), Brooke Adam (Travis Terry), Colin Adam, Abigail Rigas, Oliver Rigas, Vincent Rigas; Inez Garzon; Maddie Davis; Lucas Davis and Eloise Garzon; great-grandchildren, Parker, Tinsley, Travis Jr., Olivia, Sophia, Hemi, Sawyer, Finnegan, Bowie, Scarlett and Lando.

She was predeceased by Arthur and Bridget Johnston, Lawrence Rigas, Bruce Johnston, (Arizona), Richard Johnson, (Ohio), William Johnston, (Berchtesgaden, Germany), Brynn Besemer and Sebastian Garzon.

Services will be held at 11 a.m., Feb. 17, at the United Presbyterian Church, 58 East St., Walton.

Donations in Sara's memory may be sent to the Larry Sez Scholarship, WCS, 47-49 Stockton Ave., Walton, NY 13856, to support community sports and college-bound students studying engineering, writing and sports management.