Sarah Grace Trowbridge (née Althaus), 33, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Thursday, December 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois after an 11-month battle with Leukemia.

Sarah was born in Lexington, Kentucky on August 21, 1986 – but from that point on, she was bound to be on the move. After a few years in Stow, Ohio, Sarah's parents followed their call to the mission field in Gabon, Africa. Sarah spent her formative elementary and middle school years in Gabon.  Her life experiences there instilled in her an adventurous spirit, and an appreciation of and sensitivity to people of other cultures. Though she faced numerous medical issues throughout her childhood, Sarah never let those define or limit her.  In high school, she attended boarding school at Black Forest Academy in Germany. Sarah graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she studied international development.

Sarah's professional passion lay in working with refugees and individuals seeking asylum in the United States. She followed this passion through work in Wheaton, Illinois; Washington, DC; and Chicago; IL. Her dedication and ability to communicate in French, Spanish, and English, made her a cherished colleague at the refugee service organizations with which she worked:  World Relief, the International Rescue Committee, Heartland Alliance, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Sarah also dedicated several years of her life to addressing some of the root issues leading individuals to flee to the US for asylum. In 2015, She moved to the Honduran capital city of Tegucigalpa, where violence and poverty threatened the lives of its many inhabitants. Sarah led the development of a new English language program for a school located in one of the city's most challenging neighborhoods. She also was on the leadership board of her church located in the same community. Sarah was so dedicated to this work, that she and Evan moved to the neighborhood for their final two years in Honduras. Her genuine compassion led to strong and meaningful relationships with many women and youth in the neighborhood, where she was a regular presence walking the small roads to the school, church, and neighbors' homes. She also volunteered her skills and knowledge to a Honduran organization that helped homeless youth access legal services and protection.

Sarah's life was grounded in her profound Christian faith, which guided her priorities both big and small. In the last ten years of her life, she courageously faced the complications of benign tumors that were expanding in her brain and causing progressive hearing loss.

Sarah looked forward to warm days for bike rides and long swims. Sarah knew how to find joy in all situations, and took great pleasure knitting, baking, sipping good coffee, and reading long books.

Sarah is survived by her husband Evan, her parents Todd and Terri, her sister Becky (Peter) Baker, her sister Rachelle, and her brother Thomas (Eva). She was a beloved aunt to Enoch, Jubilee, Skye, Noah, Caleb, and Tristan. She met her husband, Evan, while living in Washington, DC and serving with the Mennonite Voluntary Service. They married in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania in November 2016. Sarah was diagnosed with leukemia in January 2019.

Visitation will be held at Wellspring Alliance Church in Wheaton, IL on Friday, January 3 from 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm followed by a memorial service from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, Sarah requested that donations be made in her memory to her church in Honduras, Iglesia Viviendo en Amor y Fe .