Our beautiful, amazing mother left us for her new home in Heaven on August 12, 2021. She was just shy of her 100th birthday and ready to be on her way.

Mom was born on September 23,1921 at her parents' farm near Simpson, Pennsylvania. She was given the name Alexandria Mary Ezersky and was called Sasha which is short for Alexandria in Russian. Sasha lived and worked on the family farm along with her parents and nine siblings. When she started at the local one-room school, her name became Sara. After graduating from high school during World War II, Sara went to New York to work in a factory that produced parts for the war planes as one of the now honored "Rosie the Riveters."

Sara soon met William J. O'Keefe, fell in love and they married in 1943. They moved to New Jersey and then Pennsylvania, raising seven children. The family made a big move to California in 1959, settling in Los Altos as Dad worked in the now well-known Silicon Valley. Dad had driven ahead with Geoff, and Richard stayed behind to marry and join the Navy. Mom drove the station wagon clear across the country with her sister and the five girls— Kathy, Barbara, Debra, Liz and Margie. As the children grew older and ready for college, Sara went to cosmetology school and worked as a hairdresser to help pay their way. She then learned bookkeeping and worked for Ferry Morse Seed Company. It was with her boss's wife that Sara accepted Jesus as her Savior.

When Mom and Dad retired, they moved to Blue Lake Springs in Arnold, California. They joined the Country Club and Sara took up golf and they met new friends. She loved fishing with her lady friends and enjoyed going to Tahoe to play the slot machines. She said it was her therapy.

Mom and Dad eventually moved back to the Bay Area to be closer to family and medical care. Dad passed away in 2002 and Sara pushed on, selling her home and moving to an apartment nearby. Then in 2006 she moved up to Placerville, California to live with her daughter Liz and son-law Doug. Mom settled into her own granny flat, ready to reinvent herself again and start a new chapter of her life. She even changed her name from Sara to Allie. This was fun but also confusing. Half the grandkids knew her as Grandma Sara and half as Grandma Allie. She was happy enjoying local family and grandkids, holiday gatherings, and frequent visits from her very large family. Mom had raised 7 kids, had 21 grandkids, and by the time she passed she had 39great-grandkids, 2 adopted greats, 5 step greats, and 4great-great grandkids. Then baby Graham was born the day after Mama passed. Grandma Allie loved all those beautiful grandchildren so much. With so many it was sometimes tough to remember all their names and who they belonged to.

Mom was an avid reader and liked to stay busy as she aged. She was a fantastic cook and loved cooking for the family, her main ingredient always being love. She'd also bake cookies or her famous potato salad for church events and made food for memorials and the homeless in our area. She still enjoyed the slot machines and was excited when the Red Hawk Casino was built near by. When she couldn't go by herself anymore, family would take her there for some fun and therapy.

Allie overall had an amazing life. It wasn't always easy — in fact there were some very hard times. But she overcame and rose to the challenges. She saw so much change over her 99+ years and adapted well by keeping an open mind and staying well-informed. She was a very smart woman and remained aware and involved up to the last months of her life. As Mom turned 99, she started to decline. We are happy she was able to stay at home with family help and then Hospice care until moving on.

Allie was laid to rest with Dad at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos with a small graveside service and family gathering. Thenon September 25th, we had a big Celebration of Life/Family Reunion/ Heavenly 100th Birthday Party in Placerville. It was a beautiful memorial and time of sharing our many special memories. The large gathering of family was an impressive tribute to Allie's amazing life — a life well-lived and filled with so much love.

Sending you hugs and love, Mama. Until we see you again, we miss you.

Love always…your family.