Sarah House, Inc.
100 Roberts Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13207
(315) 475-1747
info@sarahhouse.org
Executive Director:
Jennifer Coman
Founding Director:
Mary K. Keough
Our History
| “Don’t postpone your dreams” – Billy Johnson (October 13, 1995) The guardian angel of Sarah House |
Sarah House started out as a dream for Mary Keough. Mary and Dick Keough were walking in their neighborhood in the
summer of 1992. While walking they met Father John Ahern, who told them about an available house belonging to the
parish. Father Ahern asked did they have any idea on how the house could be used. Mary had the idea of housing families
of patients because of her experience with her nephew. Her nephew, Billy Johnson, had gone through a bone marrow
transplant in New Hampshire and her sister and brother-in-law needed a place to stay during the three-month period.
Billy was the driving force and inspiration behind getting Sarah House started. Mary, Billy and Father Ahern began
their work. Father Ahern set forth to secure a loan. Mary and Billy did the needs assessment by providing the
documentations, and proving the critical need for a hospital hospitality house.
With $20,000, the most critical repairs (a new electrical system, new plumbing and new windows) were done to the
house. After the major repairs were done to the house cleaning and decorating had to be done. Volunteers from the
community put in many hours to help make Sarah House complete. They sanded the floors, help repair walls, painted and
decorated the house.
On October 13, 1995 tragedy struck Sarah House. The inspiration for Sarah House, Billy, died after eight years of battling
leukemia. He was 30 years old when he died.
In January of 1994, Sarah House was officially open to the public.
The house was a four bedroom colonial home. Each bedroom was comfortably furnished with one or two beds, alarm clock,
television, dresser, mirror, closet, bed linens, and bath towels. There were one and a half shared bathrooms, with
shower and all hospitality accompaniments. The house also had a kitchen, including a stove/oven, microwave, toaster oven,
and refrigerator.
In 2003, a group of local contractors from Local 747 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners offered to help
convert half of the Most Holy Rosary parish convent into new rooms for Sarah House. In 2005, the new Sarah House was
opened right next door. The new Sarah House provides: eleven bedrooms including two handicap rooms on the 1st floor,
two kitchens, five bathrooms with one handicap on the 1st floor, one family room, one living room and dining room and
2 laundry rooms, one on each floor.
What's in a name
Many people ask about our name, Sarah House. Sarah House is named after the Old Testament's Sarah. Sarah, the wife of Abraham, was known for her kindness, patience, and willingness to do hospitality. Sarah House is a dream that has taken many years to realize. Sarah House provides a welcome respite for those who wait by a sick bed and for those who wait endless hours and days for test results and treatments.
The Logo of Sarah House
Karen Kerney designed the Sarah House Logo. Karen was a local artist as well as a
farmer, baker and social activist. Karen is one of the founders of On the Rise Bakery. The logo Karen designed for Sarah
House was an acorn tree, flowers and birds that surrounds the old Sarah House. The logo reflects the warmth and caring
that Sarah House can offer to those who stay.
The new logo is an angel, which was made especially for Sarah House when one of the volunteer’s brother died.
The new logo was adopted when Sarah House expanded to its new facilities.