Obituary of Sarafina V. Pollera
Sarafina "Sara" Pollera, a spirited nonagenarian of 90 years, passed away at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick on the morning of May 21, 2023. Born and initially raised in Brooklyn, NY, Sara relocated to Cranford before establishing roots in South Plainfield with her husband, Emilio. She spent a significant portion of her life in South Plainfield prior to moving to Gillette and then the Laurel Circle community in Bridgewater in 2019. Sara and Emilio enjoyed their winter months in Jupiter, Florida and summers in Lavallette with their family.
Sara was recognized for her competitive spirit, which shone brightly in many facets of her life. Her family card games were never casual affairs but always involved a friendly wager, and she was a relentless opponent at Rummikub, famously known for not letting her grandchildren win. Sara spent many years playing a weekly poker game with her lifelong friends and loved her frequent trips to Atlantic City. Most recently, she exhibited her competitive nature on the Laurel Circle Chair Volleyball Team as well as playing Mahjong and Rummikub with her Laurel Circle friends. This past Christmas she nearly clinched first place in the family's annual ping pong tournament at the impressive age of 90.
In her younger years, Sara volunteered at Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield. While in Florida she volunteered at the Jupiter Medical Center Thrift Shop and most recently at the Laurel Circle Gift Shop. She enjoyed spending time with her children, particularly Saturday evenings spent with her daughter, Maryann, Thursday night dinner and TV with her son Dan, and the daily support and unconditional love of her daughter Lisa.
Sara's beloved husband, Emilio, predeceased her in 2006.
Her memory will live on through her children - Dan Pollera and his wife Karen, Maryann Pollera and her boyfriend Kenny, and Lisa Ann Jaeckel with her husband Carl "Cully". She also leaves behind eight loving grandchildren: Nicholas, Michael, Taylor and her husband Eli, Jodi, Alex, Danielle, Nicole, and Maria.
Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Higgins Home for Funerals from 5 to 8 pm. A funeral mass will take place on Thursday May 25, 2023, at 10 am at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church in Martinsville, followed by the entombment at St. Mary’s Stony Hill Cemetery in Watchung.
