Sarah "Sadie" (Crozier) Browning

Sarah "Sadie" Browning 99 of Shalersville, Ohio was surrounded by loved ones as she passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 18, 2017. She will be forever present in our hearts as she made this world a better place with her graciousness, generosity, kindness and love. It was her perseverance that made Sadie an extraordinary woman and an inspiration to her family and friends. Sadie was born December 2, 1917 in Belfast, Ireland to Samuel and Maggie (Fee) Crozier. Her mother died when she was eight years old and Sadie assumed the care of her two younger siblings. Her father remarried and Sadie was blessed with a loving mother named Mary and five more siblings.  She had fond memories of growing up with her brothers and sisters on the farm. In 1940, during War World II, Sadie became a member of The St. John Ambulance Association of Ulster and was certified to administer first aid to the wounded.  Sadie was present during the Belfast Blitz and provided lifesaving care to those injured from relentless air raids and attacks from the German Forces. It wasn’t long until Northern Ireland was host to American Soldiers. It was at a dance hall where Sadie met a young American GI named Christopher Browning. They married and resided in Ireland until 1946. During this time their first daughter Christine was born.  In the early part of 1946, Sadie packed up her small child, said farewell to her loving family and boarded a ship chartered for war brides and set sail across the Atlantic Ocean to live the American dream with her GI husband. Sadie and Christopher had their second daughter Donna in 1950. They lived in Windham, Ohio in a housing project where other war veterans and their families resided. The women forged a community and supported one another, making sure no one went hungry. Sadie divorced and gained employment at Polson Rubber as an Inspector and walked to work every day until she was able to afford a car. In 1959 this amazing single mother of two purchased a brand new home for her and her children. When Polson rubber closed she became employed as a housekeeper for Hiram College where she cleaned Henry dorm until she retired at the age of 80. Sadie was a member of Portage Trail Walkers. She had many wonderful friends and a best friend Nancy. She was graced with eight grandchildren who adored her and fought over who was her favorite. They would poke fun of her every time she was at a restaurant and tucked a few sugar packets into her pocketbook. They weren’t aware of the food rations endured during the war and how sugar was a rarity. She loved all of them very much (yes you were her favorite).Time passed and eighteen great-grandchildren arrived. She was able to hold and kiss the foreheads of all ten of her great- great- grandchildren. Some may not know this, but Sadie placed a blessing on every one of those babies with that kiss. Sadie is survived by her loving daughter Donna Smith of Rootstown who was at her side daily and when she passed, sister’s Patsy Postlethwaite of Ravenna and Dorothy White of Ireland and a brother Robert Crozier of Ireland. She was preceded in death by her parents and daughter Patricia C. Elkridge. Cremation has taken place and a graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM Friday, January 27, 2017 at Riverside Cemetery in Shalersville. Reverend William Snyder will officiate.