Sarah Lynn Royalty
Sarah Lynn Royalty, age 24, of 120 E. Junction Street, Ursa, Illinois, did not want to be left behind and so she went to join her sisters Sandy and Amber after a long battle with Batten Disease on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 1:15 a.m. in her home. She was born on October 5, 1985 in Quincy, Illinois, a daughter of Randy & Darlene (Greenlee) Royalty.
She attended Monroe Elementary School and was a May 2003 graduate of the Illinois School for Visually Impaired in Jacksonville, Illinois. Sarah loved going to school at ISVI and enjoyed reading Braille and being around all the other kids. She loved to be able to touch things and was a joy to all who knew her. She was able to voice all the words to her favorite movies before the characters could say their lines, causing many of her friends to get annoyed.
Sarah was a surprise coming into this world being a twin to her sister Sandy and surprised her parents on leaving them so quickly after the passing of her sister Amber on the 17th. Although she and her sisters did not seem to live a long time they lived a life time in their short time here on earth. They touched so many people and will be sorely missed by their parents and all who knew and loved them.
Survivors include:
HER PARENTS: Randy & Darlene of Ursa;
GRANDMOTHER: Rosina Greenlee of Rushville;
Many aunts, uncles, and cousins also survive. She is also survived by her wonderful and loving day care workers Ann Casley and Mandy Buss.
Sarah was preceded in death by her sisters Amber and Sandy Royalty, her maternal grandfather, Darrell Greenlee, her paternal grandparents, Mary Royalty and Wendell and Isabell Royalty.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 21, 2009 at 9:45 a.m. in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home with a funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. in St. Anthony Catholic Church by Father Tom Hagstrom. Interment will be in St. Anthony Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday evening from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home with a prayer service at 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Batten Disease Support & Research Association, www.bdsra.org.
Sarah,
so sorry I missed seeing you one last time,but you will always hold a special place in my heart. There are days you will come to mind and I will start laughing about something you said or just about something fun we did,like painting fingernails and toenails. I loved that big beautiful smile you always had. I also enjoyed watching you eat and eat my cinnamon toast.
I will forever cherish the time we spent together Miss Sarah. Love,
Mrs.Strowmatt
I am so sorry to have learned of the passing of your daughters. May God be with you.
Deb Edwards
I am so sorry to read about Amber’s and Sarah’s deaths. In cleaning and going through some of my mom’s things – Mary Rose (Neigel) Gillick, first cousin to Rosina Greenlee – I found a Christmas, 1995, letter talking about finding out about Batten’s disease affecting your girls. Thought I would try the Internet to see if they were still living. So, so sorry. You are all in my prayers. I remember having a picnic and playing baseball at the city park in Ipswich, SD, with you girls. Even have pictures.
Dear Randy + Darlene,
We are so sorry to hear of the lose of your girls. Our deepest sympathy and prayers are with you both.
Sincerely,
Tom and Patti Ketchum
Casino Lanes
OUR BEAUTIFUL ANGEL. MAY ETERNAL REST BE GRANTED TO YOU. MAY YOU LIVE YOUR ETERNAL LIFE WRAPPED IN THE LORDS PRESENCE. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN LITTLE ONE. WE LOVE AND MISS YOU.
Darlene and Randy: Virgil and I want to let you know that we are thinking of you at this time and are sorry for the loss of your girls, we know that they are with the Lord and are all together and well. No more sorry, no more pain for our Heavenly Father loves us more than we can know. We love you both.
Your in our thoughts and prayers
Darlene,
My deepest sympathy on the passing of your daughters. What a courageous family you all have been. God Bless You All. My prayers are with you and your husband. (I was a former secretary at Family Service Agency.)
Darlene and Randy: All of us feel so sorry at the loss of your girls. All our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. We know the girls are now home with the Lord and are together and well.
God gave you the blessings in these girls and you have exceeded his expectations, you are their blessing.