Sarah Elizabeth Swanson

Sarah Elizabeth (Hubbs) Swanson, 51, of New Orleans, Louisiana, passed away Thursday, November 8, 2018, at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans. Sarah was born on April 6, 1967, in Jefferson City to the late Harvey G. and the late Roberta Wilkerson Hubbs. Sarah attended Small Fry Pre-School, West Elementary, Jefferson and Simonsen Junior High and was a 1985 graduate of Helias High School. She went on to earn her degree in accounting from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri in 1989, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority. Immediately after college, Sarah indulged her love of skiing by spending time working at Keystone Resort in Colorado. Sarah then made her way to New England where between the years of 1992 to 1997, she lived in Kittery Point, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It was there that Sarah would meet the love of her life, Garth K. Swanson. In 1997, Sarah and Garth moved to New Orleans, Louisiana where they would be united in marriage on November 2, 2002. New Orleans wasn't Sarah's town nor Garth's town; New Orleans was their town and together they proceeded to build a full and beautiful life there. Sarah was a career driven Certified Internal Auditor who worked in accounting and finance for Coca-Cola, Force Energy, Telecorp PCS/AT&T and Sun-Com/Sprint ultimately becoming the Director of Internal Audit for Metals USA. While Sarah's work reflected her excellent work ethic and drive for perfection, one of the greatest accomplishments in her career was the mark she left on each workplace through the abundant friendships she made and continued to nurture throughout her life. Over the years, Sarah used her many gifts, talents, and passions to reach out to those with whom she came in contact, children and animals in particular. Children naturally gravitated to Sarah and she had a great love for them. She was the most doting, fun-loving and indulgent Aunt to her nieces and nephews. She had a special fondness for animals and was the epitome of the perfect dog-mom to her boys Jack and Auggie. As an avid reader she was intent on helping children foster a love for reading by volunteering at Edgar P. Harney Elementary School as a reading tutor. Sarah was the person who would give you the shirt off of her back whether a longtime friend or stranger. On many Christmas or Thanksgiving days, Sarah could be found serving dinner at a local shelter. She loved to bring people together and was the pulse of her neighborhood and area dog park. In addition to all of this, friends and family will always remember her love of holiday decorating, festivals and Mardi Gras. There will most certainly be a forever void on the Sidewalk Side without Sarah present in one of her many costumes and crazy wigs. She leaves many behind who will carry on her legacy: Her husband of 16 years, Garth K. Swanson; their two beloved fur babies, Jackson "Jack" Pollack Pedroia Swanson and Augustus "Auggie" Busch Swanson; her sister, Jane Emily Hubbs of Columbia, Missouri; nieces and nephews, Elizabeth Hubbs Blackburn (Jacob), Dashiell Swanson, Isaac Clarke, Kai and Keone Wilkes; great-nephews, Nicholas (Niko) and Carter Blackburn and great-nieces, Hailey and Kellie Blackburn and her honorary nieces and nephews of Harmony Street; mother-in-law, Ann Swanson of Dover, New Hampshire; father-in-law, Stephen Swanson (Terri) of Santa Monica, California; sisters-in-law, Kirstin Swanson (Basil Clarke) of Dover, New Hampshire and Natalie Wilkes (Keone) of Ventura, California; brothers-in-law, Gunnar Swanson of Dover, New Hampshire and Kris Swanson of Laguna Beach, California; maternal aunt, Loretta Wilkerson Whitney "Aunt Doodie" and Uncle Guy of Conway, Arkansas; paternal aunts, Betty Haven of Dupo, Illinois, Anna Depew (David) of Ironton and Mary White of Columbia, Missouri; dearest friend for life, Miki Schnieders Nichols and many special cousins and friends. Those who have gone on before Sarah include her parents; her brother-in-law, Guy Richie Swanson; her maternal grandmother and grandfather, NeNe and Papa Wilkerson and her paternal grandparents, Harvey and Lucille Hubbs. Services to celebrate Sarah's life will take place on Saturday, November 17, at 12:15 p.m. at the Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home, 3827 Canal Street, with the Rev. J.J. Whitney officiating. Friends will be received from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Should friends desire, memorial contributions are suggested to Animal Rescue of New Orleans (ARNO) https://animalrescueneworleans.org/donate/. Local arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com