Sara Anne Chadwick Greene (born John Chadwick Hocking), 79, of Traverse City, MI passed away peacefully at The Grand Traverse Pavilions, surrounded lovingly by family.

Sara’s star burns bright. She will be remembered with the same joy she ignited in others. She lived an adventurous life traveling the world on the seven seas as a marine engineer. Sara graduated from the Great Lakes Maritime Academy and served our country in the Navy, during the Gulf War with the Military Sealift Command, and later the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. At sea Sara looked for the green flash at sunset, reveling in the wonder of the natural world. After a voyage, she was relieved to be home where she regaled her loved ones with tales of people she met and places she’d been. On land, Sara loved riding bicycles and motorcycles through the mountains, living with the sun on her face.

Sara was so funny and witty. She was an athlete, musician, and talented storyteller. She was a spiritual person who lived from her heart and loved her family fiercely. Her philosophical and creative mind was always at play studying civil war history, reading science fiction, westerns, natural history, and exploring world wisdom traditions. She encouraged her loved ones to live bravely and to follow our hearts. Sara, we are fortunate and grateful to have known you, to call you family and friend. We will always see you crack a cheeky grin back at us in the last flash of sunset as the great star dips below the horizon.

Sara is survived by her daughters; Maris Hocking, Erica Hocking, Sherry Gobaleza-Hocking, and granddaughter, Emma Hocking. Sara is also survived by her 3 sisters; Megan Hocking (Jeri Burbank) of Ann Arbor, MI., Wendell Hocking of Holt, MI., and Nancy Hocking of Wales, UK. We hold deep gratitude for Karen Hocking, who ensured Sara was well cared for in her final years. Having met in their 20’s, Sara, who was then “Chad” knew he would always love Karen. And so it was, for 50 years in and out of marriage, children, a grandchild, and the final journey to the ancestors.

A private celebration of life will be held this summer. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice of Michigan.

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