Sarah Elizabeth Young (Vanderpool)

Sarah Elizabeth Young (Vanderpool) strived to make each day better than the last — for herself and for everyone around her.

“I have a full heart to offer others,” she wrote. “And I will always give my all.”

Sarah, a lifelong music enthusiast and an advocate for the unsheltered community, died Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, after suffering a brain aneurysm. She was 46.

Sarah was born Feb. 4, 1979, in Salem, Oregon. She graduated from Sprague High School in 1997.

Sarah relished her time at Sprague. Choir and band presented opportunities to harness her passion for music. She was known for her radiant singing voice and her instrumental talent, especially on clarinet and saxophone. Her exuberance stood out — it’s no wonder the Class of ’97 voted her “Game Show Host” — when she proudly led the Sprague Marching Band as drum major her senior year.

What Sarah gained from these experiences, though, went beyond musicianship and leadership. She found a deep sense of belonging that she would cherish for years to come, and she built friendships in high school that would last a lifetime.

Sarah’s friends were drawn to her big heart and big energy. The outpouring of support she received since her recent hospitalization is a testament to how many lives she touched with her kindness, compassion and enthusiasm.

Her warmth was evident even in the way she talked. Her calm, methodic speech evoked her musical spirit, but Sarah attributed her mellow tone to being a mother. Her son, Dylon, was born in November 2004, and her daughter, Violet Sky, was born in January 2010.

Her children were the brightest lights in Sarah’s life — “my truest love, hope, faith and tranquility. They are the miracles of my heart,” she wrote. She credited them for her courage and perseverance through challenging times.

In 2019, her challenges culminated in a period of homelessness. Living on the streets was tough. As she fought for her own survival, she found a community that was fighting the same fight, and she became an advocate for them as much as for herself. She began volunteering at HOAP, a Salem day center for people experiencing homelessness. And a few years later, she landed a job as a receptionist for Church at the Park, a Salem nonprofit that provides low-barrier support to people trying to exit poverty.

Sarah loved her work, and it showed. She greeted every Church at the Park guest with respect, listening to their stories and making them feel seen and valued. She celebrated every victory, no matter how small, and took pleasure in seeing people move forward, whether it was toward sobriety, better health or a permanent home. She also built a strong rapport with her co-workers, who appreciated her warm hugs, her listening ear and her gift for diplomacy when things got tough.

Serving the unsheltered community “comes from deep in my soul,” Sarah wrote. “I will always give till I bleed and love unconditionally with grace, knowledge and wisdom. God is good, and I am blessed to do his work.”

Early this year, Sarah realized her dream of getting her own place, a house she shared with her partner.

“I remember five years ago, I was dreaming of where I am today,” she wrote on the eve of her 46th birthday as she moved into her new home. “Feeling beyond blessed and grateful for my life today.”

Sarah believed in people’s potential — including her own. She brightened every space she entered with laughter, love and glamorous nails. Being around her was a reminder that goodness still exists in the world.

Friends are invited to celebrate Sarah’s life at a service at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Johnson Funeral Home, 134 Missouri Ave. S, in Salem.

Sarah’s friends have set up a memorial fund to cover funeral expenses and to support her children as they navigate this loss. Contributions to Church at the Park in Sarah’s name are also appreciated.