Sara Christine Dagon – 31 – of 32 Church St., Hornell, died unexpectedly Saturday (May 4, 2019) at her home.
Born in Hornell on September 12, 1987, she was the youngest daughter of Jim & Patty (Class) Dagon.
Sara grew up in Hornell and attended St. Ann School. She later graduated from Hornell High School (class of 2005). While in high school, she was a member of the Hornell Swim Team and the HHS Girls Modified Soccer Team. Following high school graduation, Sara attended Alfred State College, Monroe Community College, Fingerlakes College at Canandaigua and Buffalo State College. While attending Monroe Community College in Rochester, she was employed as a waitress at Flour City Diner.
For about 10 years, Sara resided in Florida where she worked as a waitress for several restaurants, including Flashback Diner in Ft. Lauderdale and IHOP Diner in Port St. Lucie. Returning to Hornell in 2015, she had served as a waitress at the Country Kitchen in Hornell and The Collegiate in Alfred. Most recently, Sara worked as a Day Care Provider for the Hornell Children’s Home, primarily at the After School Program at North Hornell School.
She was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a communicant of St. Ann’s Church. She was also a member of the Hornell Association.
Without a doubt, Sara will be remembered as a warm, compassionate girl who was loved by everyone. She really had no enemies except, maybe herself. For over 12 years, she struggled with opioid addiction. Throughout the years, Sara tried so hard to stay clean but it seemed almost impossible to do. She would be clean for months at a time and for some reason would relapse. In and out of rehab facilities became the norm.
In January, 2018, Sara received the good news that she was expecting a baby. She took the news very, very seriously and was determined to stay clean. On September 6, 2018, Sara gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy — Leo James Dagon. Because of her addiction problems, Sara never thought that she would ever be blessed with a baby. Despite her decade long battle with opiates, Sara fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a wonderful, caring & loving mother. But, on Saturday, her demons resurfaced…….
If Sara could speak to the youth of today, she would plead to everyone listening to BE SCARED OF DRUGS — BE VERY SCARED OF DRUGS — STAY AS FAR AWAY FROM DRUGS AS POSSIBLE!!!
Sara was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Jim & Rickey Dagon; her maternal grandmother, Rosemary King; her maternal grandfather, Robert Class; her cousin, Jill Andolina; her uncle, Larry Clark.
Survivors include her 8 month old son, Leo James Dagon; her parents, Jim & Patty Dagon of Hornell;
3 sisters, Laura (Dr. Pasquale) Picco of Hornell, Jenny (Jeff) Reynolds of Arkport and Erin (Erik) Werner of North Hornell; her nieces & nephews, Nicholas Picco, Gennaro Picco, Pasquale “PJ” Picco, Marco Picco, Hannah Reynolds, Ethan Reynolds, Bryant Reynolds, Logan Werner, Harrison Werner & Evelyn Werner; many aunts, uncles & cousins.
At Sara’s family’s request there will be no calling hours. Family & friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday at 2:00 PM at St. Ann’s Church. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.
Sara’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to St. Ann’s Academy, 41 Genesee St., Hornell, NY.
A special thank you to the caring staff at CASA-TRINITY in Dansville for their tireless dedication to those struggling with the disease of addiction.
Dear Jim and Patti
We are so sorry to read this. Our hearts and prayers go out to you and your family
Judy and Mike
Dear Jimmy, Patty and family,
Our hearts and prayers and sincerest thoughts are with you all. I remember Sara at the restaurant a couple years ago and she couldn’t have been lovelier. Peace be with her now and forever.
Love from the entire Piccirillo family.
Dear Patty and Jimmy and family,
Our prayers, hearts and thoughts are with you and we send you our love and support. We are so sorry for the loss of your lovely Sara.
Love from Karen, Linda and Pauline Piccirillo
May God rest her soul and send His angels to comfort you. Love and prayers and sympathy, The Spoth family
Jim and Patti we are so sorry for your loss! Our thoughts and prayers for you and your family.
So sorry for your lost. You are in my thoughts and prayers
To all the Dagon family we are very sorry for your loss. Even though we did not know Sara her spirit touched so many lives and had many friends and loved her little boy. Losing a child is the hardest thing to deal with on. May you know that we are so sorry for your loss and may God’s comforting hands be with all of you. Boyd, Lori, Vincent, Andrew, Joshua, Victoria Mcdaniel.
Jim and patty,
My heart is broken for you both . I pray for you both , your grandson and the family. The Dagon family has always been one of the most loving family’s of Hornell . May you find the strength you need with each other and may god help you find peace.
Ilona ( Baker) Miller
Dear Jim and Patty and family,
I am so very sorry for your loss. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all at this very difficult time. May she rest in peace.
Much love,
Georgia
Dear Jimmy and Family,
My deepest sympathy for the loss of your beautiful daughter Sara. I know this has to be the worst pain in your life and your families to endure. You and your family have helped all of grieve and been there to help us through our pain and sorrow. Yet in true Dagon style you share your daughters tragedy with all of us in hopes that one life if not many young life’s will be saved. Please know we are here for you as friends and a community.
God Bless this family
Many prayers for your most devastating loss.
I met Sara at The Country Kitchen, my son worked there at the time, she was very open about her addiction, I too went many years in the Drug World, also my Son, knew the depths of addiction, his was the same as Sara,s by the Grace of God go us, I am so sad to hear she lost her battle! She was a Beautiful Soul,and that beautiful baby of hers deserved to have her in his life, I would like to think she will be his Guardian Angel, it takes a lot of courage to explain what happened, I commend you for that! Sara was real , not fake,but sometimes real is a cross to bear,I could have lost my son the same way! I can only imagine the Heart ache you all must feel, but you still have a part of her with that Beautiful Little Boy, God Bless you all!!!!
I’m so sorry for your loss. My heart aches for this senseless tragedy. She is at peace now.
Patty, Jim and family,
So sorry for your loss. Sara was a beautiful young lady. Our hearts go out to you and your family.
Hugs and prayers.
Love- Karin, Will & Kate Oyer
Our hearts are so broken….Jimmy and Patty, may her demons be gone and enjoying life everlasting. All our love Dave and Joanie
My heart breaks for you, as a parent who has also lost a child to the evils of this world..what ever demons took over her here no longer have control she is now free in God’s arms, I am so sad for that beautiful little boy, but God has a plan or he wouldn’t be here. I know he will grow up knowing that no matter what has happened he was truly loved and always will be by all of us.
Thank you so much for finding the courage and resolve to write this obituary; it is truly an act of selflessness and bravery. I just wish it wasn’t necessary under these circumstances. She was a beautiful person, and thankfully now at peace.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you!
Jimmy and family, so sorry for your loss. Our hearts go out to and your family. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Heaven has gained a beautiful angel.
I’m so so sorry for your loss. I know personally what you have gone through n going through. My thoughts n prayers are with you and your family
Jim & Patty
Please accept our deepest, most sincere condolences at this most awful, heartbreaking time. Be assured of our prayers.
Rev. Matt & Jeanette Sassano
Dear Jimmy, Patty and family,
We are so sad to hear about Sara. Keeping everyone in our thoughts and prayers for strength and comfort during this difficult time. Sending everyone much love and hugs. Steve and Rosalie Mulhollen and family
Dear Jimmy and family,
So very sorry to you and your family. Please know that thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time of your loss.
In Sincerest Sympathy,
The family of “Lorraine Klann”
Jimmy,Patty and family. Our thoughts and prayers are with each of you. You raised a beautiful daughter who loved you all especially little Leo. She will be his guardian angel. May Sara find peace with our Heavenly Father and may God keep you all in His loving arms
Jim. So sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you.
Words cannot possibly express how Heartbroken I am for you both and little Leo. Addiction is a cruel disease. I hope you can find some peace in having her beautiful baby, Leo.
Sally, Steve and Adam
Jim, Patty & Family,
My very sincere thoughts & Prayers are with you all. Sarah was such a doll, and I always enjoyed seeing you all together at family functions, especially at the Club 57. Be sure you are all in our hearts and prayers during this very difficult time for you all.
Anything I can do, please let me know!!. May God Bless you all she left behind.
Tommy Drumm
Dear Jim, Patty, Leo, and Family,
You all are in our prayers! We pray God gives you peace and comfort! Please let us know if there is anything we can do to be a help.
In our prayers, Pastor Luke and Mandy
I am so very sorry for your loss. I cherish my memories of Sara and the time she lived with me.
Prayers for her welcome into heaven – and for your memories to sustain and comfort you all in the days ahead.
God’s blessings,
Denise Garcia
Jensen Beach FL
To all of the Dagon family, may God hold you in his arms during this tragic time. So sorry.
Sorry to here about your daughter MR dagon
This hits so close to home. I myself did cpr on my son 29 to revive him from an overdose. So sorry for your loss. Prayers
Dearest Jim and Family,
Dan and I would like to extend our heartfelt sympathy and when we say we KNOW how YOU feel! we really do. Losing our daughter in March, even though the circumstances were different was unlike anything we had ever felt.We will be praying for Leo as we too have our daughters little boy. God Bless you all.
Jim and family…My sincere sympathies to you during this most difficult time. May our loving God wrap his arms around you and give you strength and comfort to meet the days and weeks ahead. Jim, you are in my thoughts and prayers…Stay strong.
Jimmy and Patty and family, my heart goes out to all of you. I will keep you all in my prayers. Your beautiful Sara is finally at peace. God Bless you all.
Rosie and I are so sorry for your lose. Wish we could be there with you guys. We will keep her in our prayers.
So sorry, your in my prayers.
Jimmy,
All my thoughts and prayers are with you and with your wife and family from Ocala, Fl. I just saw you and your wife at the Villa’ s in Hornell.
To the Dagon Family:
May your beautiful Sara Rest In Peace. Our love and prayers for you all.
Stephanie & Peter Conway
Jim/Patty
we are soo sorry
The world will miss “Sara Do”
No words can ever express how sorry I am for your loss. May she truly Rest In Peace and May God wrap His arms around your family, bringing you His comfort. Praying for you!
So sorry for your loss i feel your pain and heartaches Prayer’s to the Family
Jim and Patty
So many memories of going to nursing school and working at St James together in ICU CCU and when we were all getting married and having our babies. My sincere thoughts are with you today and always. God bless you. We live by faith not by sight Sue
Jim and Patty,
We are so sorry for the loss of your lovely daughter.. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Words cannot express the pain of your loss…
Dear Jim and Patty, we are so saddened for your loss of such a beautiful child. Her pain must have been so great. I’d like to share a thought I recently came across in a book: ” Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, loves leaves a memory no one can steal. ” Remember the good times.
I did not know Sara, but my heart felt sympathy to her family and beautiful baby. I commend the person who wrote her obituary. You shared something most people would try to keep a secret, but this is real. More people need to be as open as you are about addiction and it’s struggle. No matter what kind of family supports one has, what socio-economic status, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion one is; addiction can happen. I hope someday we can put this insidious disease to rest and parents will not have to bury their children and children will not have to go through life without their parents.
#sarahasnodemonstofightnow.
Jimmy: I just read the heartbreaking news of the loss of your beautiful daughter, Sara. I appreciate your honesty in her obituary. Perhaps Sara’s story and your honesty can help save someone else’s life. I wish you, your wife and the rest of your family the strength to deal with your heartache.
Such a tragic loss. You and your family are n my thoughts and prayers.
When tragedy strikes in families that have been friends for generations the hurt is truly felt. Betty and I send our sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy.
Betty Ebert/Tom McCarthy
Jim, Patty and family,
I am so sorry for your loss and for Sara’s struggles. Thank you for sharing with us as I hope her experience shared will save someone else. God will continue to be with you, to heal you and give you strength. Truly a tragedy and. Incredible loss. Carol