Sara Noll Hugger

ARLINGTON -- Sara Rose Noll Hugger, 72, devoted wife, mother and grandmother, passed away Thursday, March 7, 2013, in Arlington of heart failure. Service: Memorial Mass at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 5819 W. Pleasant Ridge Road, Arlington, with a small reception following. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to National Right to Life or Birthright of Houston. Sara was born July 21, 1940 in Johnstown, PA, moved to Houston at the age of eight, and graduated from Incarnate Word Academy of Houston in 1958. She met Ray at St. Anne's Young Adults Club in 1963, and they were married one year later on September 12, 1964 at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral in Houston. During the 20-plus years of chauffeuring four kids to Catholic schools, dance, piano and karate lessons and Scout meetings, Sara returned to the classroom and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985 from Houston Baptist University. She then taught third and fourth grade at her parish school, St. Jerome in Houston. After the birth of their third grandchild, Sara and Ray moved to Arlington. As “Grandma”, she gifted all the grandchildren swimming lessons and lured them to her pool with popsicles and her remarkable cooking. Sara loved coffee, butter and wine, and not necessarily in that order. As a patriot, Sara cherished American ideals and proudly supported our military, especially the troops overseas. Sara loved to travel and considered a cruise the perfect vacation. Summer vacations in Estes Park, CO introduced her to the “Colorado weather” she preferred. Sara will be remembered for her “boiled-in-butter” cooking; her pious devotion to the Catholic faith; her unflinching support of the pro-life cause and commitment “to the babies”; her considerably staunch and outspoken conservative values; her enjoyment in a good game of dominoes or Rummy; the many greeting cards, spiritual bouquets and novenas she sent every holiday and start of the school year; the best Thanksgiving dressing ever!; her devotion and fidelity to family and the man she loved; and for her pure delight as a doting grandmother. Sara followed in death her parents, Margaret Frances Kleinmeyer and John Francis Noll; brothers, Leo Noll and John Noll; and sisters, Rosine Noll Davis and Mary Noll Frank. Survivors: Sara is survived by her husband of 48 years, Norbert "Ray" Hugger; their four children and five grandchildren, Veronica Hugger and husband, Eddie Walsh, and son, Joseph Hugger, of Galveston, Norbert "Bert" Ray Hugger Jr. of Houston and son, Austin Hugger, of Orlando, Fla., Jennifer Hugger McDonald and husband, Jeff McDonald, and their children, Gregory, Angela and Lora McDonald, of Arlington and Pauline Hugger of Galveston; and numerous nieces and nephews. Wade Family Funeral Home Arlington, 817-274-9233