Sarah M. Reyes-Cairo

Sarah Reyes-Cairo passed from this life on October 14, 2026, in Toledo, OH, surrounded by her loving family. Sarah Margaret Reyes-Cairo nee’ Thomas was born March 31, 1939 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was the youngest of three children born to Helen Coon and Falconer Thomas.

Sarah loved the outdoors, skating, sledding, fishing, art and raised a beloved champion dachshund, named “Bingo Buccaneer”, during her early school years. She graduated from University of Minnesota High School and went on to study theater at the University of Minnesota where she acted and starred in many university productions.

Sarah fell in love with her companion of 66 years when she saw him dressed in a Napoleon Bonaparte costume of his own making, posed as the famous man, and being wheeled across a U of MN stage. She was determined to meet this intriguing and handsome man. She married Orlando Mariano Reyes-Cairo on July 23rd, 1960 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and began her next adventure. Sarah graduated with an AS degree in Theatre.

While Orlando continued his University studies, Sarah and Orlando lived in Minneapolis, Lafayette, IN, Beaumont, TX, and Ann Arbor, MI during which they Tania and Dylan were born. They settled in Toledo, OH, where they all continued to participate in community theatre, folk-dancing, music, gourmet cooking and arts of all kinds.

Sarah developed a love for her Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ from her Methodist upbringing and her own study of the Bible. When the Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -Day Saints knocked on their door, Sarah and Orlando began a long study of the restored Gospel and joined the church in September of 1974 along with their two children. A year later, they were sealed together for eternity in the Washington D.C. Temple. Sarah was very active in church callings and activities including Relief Society, Young Women’s and Primary. She often played the piano, and she and Orlando sang duets together for church meetings and activities . Sarah and Orlando were blessed with and welcomed four more children, Rebecca, Alicia, Daniel and Thomas

Sarah worked over the years in various jobs, but she was particularly proud of her work as an activity director/coordinator for the International Institute of Toledo, and later, the Sylvania Senior Center. The Reyes-Cairo family was blessed by her fruitful efforts with international dinners, festivals, theatrical events and ethnic & cultural explorations. She also loved her job as a teacher in English as a Second Language programs with Toledo Schools and helped many new immigrants learn English and accuire US citizenship. Many of these students came from significantly different climates and cultures, Sarah helped them acclimate to cold Toledo winters, and the cultural norms of our very diverse city. Sarah’s adventurous, “Can Do”, personality imbued her children with a love of cooking, outdoors, nature, art, music, spirituality, and love of family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Richard J Thomas and sister Patricia J Steffer. She leaves her husband Orlando, six children; Tania Hansen (Rex) of Boise, ID; Dylan Reyes-Cairo (Marianne) of Boynton Beach, FL; Rebecca Karpinski (Nicolas) of Sylvania, OH; Alicia Mitchell (Shaun)of Sylvania, OH; Daniel Reyes-Cairo (Ashley) of Perrysburg, OH; and Thomas Reyes-Cairo (Lovetta)of Orem, UT; 20 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

The family will receive guests Friday, October 23, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1545 Eastgate, Toledo, OH 43614. The Funeral Service will begin Friday at 11:00 a.m. with Bishop Dab Boden officiating. Sarah will be laid to rest at Toledo Memorial Park Cemetery, Sylvania, Ohio.