Sarah Lynn Kovalsky

Sarah Lynn Kovalsky, 57, died Wednesday, April 27, 2011, in Clarendon. Mass was celebrated at Friday, April 29, in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clarendon with Fr. Mieczyslaw Prezepiora, as the celebrant.

Interment was held at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Clarendon. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Sarah was born November 7, 1953, in Haverstraw, New York, to Vincent and Augusta Stewart Kovalsky. She was a resident of Hyde Park, NY, prior to moving to Clarendon 1 ½ years ago.

While living in New York, she was a producer of
musicals and plays and was a model for Mercury Motors for a period of time. She had received notoriety for her establishment of an angel garden in memory of children across the US and around the world that had died.

In an interview for the Poughkeepsie Journal she said she wanted to create an angel garden in memory of her son Joseph.

“When I spoke about the angel garden, a lot of mothers from outside the area asked if they could send an angel in memory of their son or daughter,” she said.

“Of course I said yes. That’s how it all started.” She was also very involved in support groups and other activities for those who had lost children. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clarendon.

She was preceded in death by her son, Joseph Pagano, a brother, Richard Kovalsky, and her parents.

Survivors include her husband, Neal R. Mercier; three daughters, Audra Guglielmeth, Sarah Pagano and Teresa DeVanzo; two grandchildren, Grace and Lia Guglielmeth; a brother, Ronald Kovalsky; two nieces, Vicky McCord and husband Rusty and Michelle Sibley and husband John; and two nephews, Ron Kovalsky and wife Sandy, and Kevin Kovalsky and wife Wendy.