Sara Lenhart

With her family always in her heart, Sara Murphy Lenhart brought happiness and warmth into the lives of her loved ones. She was a devoted mother and wife, the backbone of her family and an icon of kindness and loyalty. She was happiest when in the company of her kids, grandkids, and husband.

Despite President Wilson’s hope for neutrality, the year 1915 marked the United States’ entrance into the Great War. Amid the slogan “Remember the Lusitania,” a passenger ship sunk by German U-Boats, thousands of young American men joined the battle scene in Europe. Despite the hardships of the war, Howard Murphy and his wife Mary Reed still found reasons to celebrate. On September 21, 1915 they welcomed their daughter Sara into their home in Camden, New Jersey.

The Murphys were a big, proud Irish family with a total of nine children: Eleanor, Mary, Sara, Kate, Howard, Florence, Anna Mae, Edward and an infant who died at birth. Her father owned a roofing company, and was able to support his large family.

At a community dance, she met Charlie Lenhart and instantly fell in love. On December 30, 1939 they were married at SS. Peter & Paul Church in Camden. They were blessed with three children, Patsy, Sharon, and Charles.

In 1950, her husband Charles was promoted in his job with RCA records and was transferred to Indianapolis where they lived together for the next 34 years of their lives. During that period, Sara was a member of St. Andrews Catholic Church. As the family matriarch and a role model, she always used her own example to teach the importance of family, loyalty, and kindness.

Sara took great pride in her role as a homemaker. She was very family-oriented and placed her family at the center of her life. She kept a very clean house; family and friends would often joke that she “sterilized” the walls, countertops, and cupboards. Though she was always true to her Irish roots, Sara had a culinary handle on a variety of dishes, especially her Italian spaghetti and meatballs and beef stew.

In time, Sara’s own virtues and strengths were put to the test. In 1953, her son Charles was born deaf and mentally challenged. In 1977, her daughter Patsy died at the young age of 35, and Sara used her maternal courage to help her family through the crisis. In the mid-1980s Sara moved back to New Jersey for a few years, but she, Charlie and their son returned to Indianapolis when her husband’s health began to fail. She devoted herself to looking after both Charlie and her son. In 1996, after a 1-1/2 year struggle, Charlie passed away making Sara the sole caregiver of her handicapped son.

Sara was an old-fashioned woman. She never drove a car and was always very much a lady. The Lenhart’s enjoyed playing cards with their close friends. Sara especially enjoyed poker and bingo. She often played with a competitive zest and more often then not, with “the Luck of the Irish”, was usually the winner.

Sara and Charlie were blessed with the births of three grandchildren, Michael, Christine and Michelle. She loved to watch her family grow, and she enjoyed all the time she spent with her grandkids. It was tradition to have all the kids over for Nana’s spaghetti and meatballs and when they spent the night, they always had “snacks” before going to bed.

In 2001, Sara broke her hip and for the first time in her life was unable to continue being the sole caregiver of her son, Charlie. Because of her physical well being, she moved into Summer Trace Retirement Community and Charlie moved in with her daughter, Sharon and son-in-law, Bill. Although Sara kept mostly to herself and family and was not the most outwardly sociable person, she made many friends during her years living at the Summer Trace. For the first time in many years, she enjoyed the thrill of a circle of friends. Included in those friends was the Summer Trace staff who she insisted did that little extra which made her life more enjoyable. Like her family, they treated her like a queen.

Sara remained close with her sisters throughout her life. In August of 2004, her daughter, Sharon, arranged a get-together in Philadelphia where Sara and her sisters were able to spend the afternoon with a spirited luncheon, marking one of the happiest days in her life. It was a happy reunion with nieces, nephews and sister-in-laws after several years of separation.

Sara was always thankful for the many blessings in her life. She was the mother of three children, a beloved wife, a devoted grandmother and great-grandmother and a loyal friend. She touched the lives of many, and will be greatly missed and frequently remembered.

Sara died on Friday, April 15, 2005 at Manor Care at Summer Trace in Carmel, Indiana. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles J. Lenhart and daughter, Patricia A. Meyer. Survivors include her daughter, Sharon Mengel (Bill); son, Charles F. Lenhart; three grandchildren, Mike Wheeler (Benita), Chris Irwin (Todd), and Michelle Smith (Steve); two great grandchildren, Pete and Sara; three sisters, Mary Merryfield, Eleanor Odenath, and Anna May Smith. Friends and family will gather on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Leppert Life Story Funeral Home, Smith Carmel Chapel, 900 N. Rangeline Rd., Carmel. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens. You are invited to visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a personal memory, arrange for flowers, or make a memorial contribution to JANUS Developmental Services, 1555 Westfield Rd., Noblesville, IN 46060 or to Visiting Nurse Service Respite Care, 4701 N. Keystone Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46205.