Sarah Giannina Leon

On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, our precious baby girl, Sarah Giannina Leon, entered the gates of Heaven to join our Father and our family members who had passed before her.  Sarah was born in Fairfax, Virginia on December 19, 1980 and lived in Reston, Virginia where she spent her childhood. She loved her friends, learning to play the guitar and doing Girl Scouts. She was a baptized member of United Christian Parish in Reston.  After moving to Myrtle Beach, SC in middle school, she continued her passion of guitar and took up surfing.  In high-school, she was even featured in a local paper for her surfing abilities and achieved the Gold Award which is the highest award given by the Girl Scouts of America. 

After graduating Socastee High School, she decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and became a Registered Nurse, graduating from USC-Columbia with her BSN.  Sarah loved being a nurse….she was incredibly compassionate, caring, empathetic, a patient advocate and mentor to new nurses joining the ranks.  She was frequently the Charge Nurse on her floor; her knowledge and many years of experience gifted her with the ability to rapid critical thinking and give the best possible outcome for her patients under her care.  A true Angel of Mercy, respected and loved by co-workers, physicians and her patients.

Sarah lived in Columbia with her husband, Carl Edwards, for years.  Several four-legged children came into their lives along the way, Moe, Daisy, Jango, Bruno then Lilly.  While several of them passed over time, the last three dogs became the center of attention. Even though life happens, friendship and caring remained between Sarah and Carl. She absolutely loved her dogs. 

Sarah had a very expansive circle of friends, from school, the hospital and her neighborhood.  Gatherings to enjoy each other’s company and making memories. She loved music, attending concerts, baseball games, cookouts, beach days, adventuring with her BFF Adrianne (who has been her bestie since middle school), puzzles, reading books, cross-stitching and embroidery work. Her work was meticulous and made absolutely beautiful creations.

Our family will be eternally grateful for the last week of her life as ALL of our immediate family were able to spend that time together with Sarah… a house filled with laughter, jokes, movies, and of course some boogie-boarding on the beach, enjoying the warmth of the summer’s sun.  We were incredibly happy and filled with joy, having all our children together… Lots of pictures of the family together and countless memories to cherish.

Sarah’s gentle spirit is now in Heaven and her Dad says that when we see a little bird flying in the sky, that it is her.  Our little angel with her wings.

Sarah is survived by her parents, Cesar and Sue Leon, her sister, Blanche Leon & brother-in-law, Mark Brody, her brother, Cesar Leon, Jr. & sister-in-law, Jessi Leon, her nieces, Joselyn Leon, Brianna Leon and Bella Leon-Brody, her aunts, uncles and cousins in the US and in Chile, and countless friends that loved and cared for her. 

With grieving hearts, we surrender our baby girl, Sarah, in the loving hands of our Lord and know she is in the Kingdom of God. She served her profession well, loved her family beyond words, and is now an Angel in Heaven.  May God love and bless our daughter.  We will each love and honor you every day of our lives. We will each join you when it is our time and will celebrate that joyous moment then.  

As we say when we are say good-bye in our family,  “Ping-Ping SPFF”.  Love you baby girl…always and forever.  Love, Mom, Dad, Blanche and Cesar

In lieu of flowers we ask that you please donate to the American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/en/  in memory of our precious Sarah

Expressions of sympathy for the family may be submitted in the online guestbook at mcalister-smith.com/weco

McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, State St. is honored to assist the family with arrangements.