Obituary of Sarah Jean Ferguson

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Sarah Jean (Gruber) Ferguson passed after a brief illness on Tuesday night, August 13, 2024.  She was 49 years old.  Sarah was born in Denver, Colorado.  She was the daughter of Bruce and Rebecca Gruber.  She grew up in Middletown, Maryland and was a 1992 graduate of Middletown High School.  She then went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in marketing from Marshall University, graduating in 1997.  It was at Marshall that she met and fell in love with a fellow classmate, Alex Ferguson.  After they graduated, they both took positions in Charlottesville, VA.  She worked for a restaurant group in their marketing department.  They married in Frederick Maryland on July 3^rd, 1999.    Sarah then took a catering manager’s job with Sodexho in Massachusetts at Harvard Law School.  They lived in Marshfield by the water for the winter months  before moving to Arlington from 2000 to 2002, then on to Woburn until 2013, and finally settling in their home in Burlington in June of 2013.  Sarah then held several positions as a catering manager for several firms including  Sodexho and Hilton Hotels.  She then worked in the healthcare field as a manager at Lahey Health, Lexington Eye, and Ellenhorn.  She also sold real estate part time for the past 20 years.  Most of her positions were part time, so she could always there for her daughters growing up.   She was in the stands and sidelines for their soccer, lacrosse, volleyball and basketball games ready to celebrate their successes and console and encourage them in their losses.  She supported and guided them in their schooling, activities, relationships, and life experiences.  

Sarah always placed others first and was the glue that kept family and friendships together.  She was the planner in the family organizing family trips, holidays, celebrations, and reunions.  She organized numerous family cruises including one on the Disney cruise line and one to Alaska.  Her home, and especially her pool, was the favorite gathering spot for all.  There were trips around the country to visit family and friends.  Last month she organized a Gruber Family reunion in Gatlinburg, TN.  Over 40 family members from all over the country came to reconnect, share stories, and keep the family bond strong.  Sarah just loved seeing everyone together.  It was not long after her return home that she took ill. 

Sarah loved animals and would foster dogs for the Great Dog Rescue.  The family described Sarah as being” authentic”.  She was always true to her own personality, values, and spirit regardless of the pressure to act otherwise.  But most of all Sarah will be remembered for the joy she brought to others, to being a best friend to so many, her humorous antics, her kindness, and love she shared with everyone she touched.  Sarah’s unexpected passing is difficult to accept, but her memory and spirit will live on in all the hearts of those she loved. 

Sarah was the beloved wife of 25 years of Alexander “Ferg” Ferguson.  She was the loving and adoring mother of Rebecca Dutton Ferguson and Elizabeth Mae Ferguson, both of Burlington.  She was the loving daughter of Bruce Gruber & loving step-daughter of his wife Kathleen Osborne-Gruber of Amelia Island, FL and the loving daughter of the late Rebecca (Arn) Gruber.  She was the caring sister of Scott Osborne & his wife Margaret of Frederick, MD, Tracy Canady & her husband Rob of Alabaster, AL, Jen Gruber of Cambridge, and Jennifer Gundling & her husband Keith of Amelia Island, FL.  She was survived by many loving great aunts, great uncles, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington on Monday, August 19 from 4- 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.  The funeral services on Tuesday will be private for family . 

Memorials in Sarah’s name may be made to the Great Dog Rescue, New England, www.gdrne.com.