Forever young. Sarah Noel Jochum, born June 19, 1977 died Thursday August 30, 2018. Born with a unique intellectual disability, Sarah maintained an angelic, innocence and child-like beauty her whole life. Sarah accepted every person she met, never noticing or judging our limitations and both loving, and demanding in return, unconditional love.

Friends may greet the family from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 5, 2018, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2215 Windsor Ave., Dubuque, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, September 6, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Fr. Dwayne Thoman will officiate, with Fr. Mark Osterhaus and Fr. Bob Beck concelebrating. Private interment will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Dubuque. Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 3860 Asbury Rd., Dubuque, is entrusted with arrangements.

Sarah lived with her mother Senator Pam Jochum in Dubuque and in Des Moines during the legislative session. The bond this duo shared was clearly heaven sent. Sarah took her mother everywhere she could and never once suffered from the usual teen-ager-like embarrassment of a parent. In fact, at large events or gatherings Sarah made sure people knew she and her mother were in the house by making discernible noises that friends recognized as Sarah. The light Sarah radiated when she saw her mom has been absorbed as pure love in those who witnessed it.

A graduate of Hempstead High School, Sarah went on to work at Area Residential Care (ARC), Hills and Dales and Life Club Center at Camp Sunnyside. While in Des Moines she spent time at the state capital influencing her mother to shape policy, especially concerning those who can not speak for themselves and whose voices go unheard. Days in Des Moines gave Sarah time with her father Tom and second mom, Amy Jochum, and her beloved brothers and sisters, Sam, Jack, Anna and Isabel. She shared a love of music with her large and loving family. Sarah and her father would frequently cruise Des Moines, listening to Tom’s special “Sarah” recordings. She loved watching winter days and summer nights unfold with her family. She loved long car rides, warm bubble baths and fits of laughter brought on by mundane, everyday activities like the opening of a trash bag or removing clothes from a closet. Her grandfather in particular performed such tasks just to hear Sarah’s giggle. She cherished her time with grandparents, her tribe of cousins and her many aunts and uncles from the Hingtgen family, Jochum family, Ward family, and Democratic family. She will be missed by all. Sarah’s family wants to extend their gratitude to Brianne Benjamin, Emily Ford, Riley Morrissey, Maddy Powers, Sue Witte and all the staff and doctors at University of Iowa Intensive Care Unit and to Tory, Joanne, Lauren , Emily and the volunteers and staff of the Iowa Donor network for their compassion and care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sarah Noel Jochum Memorial Fund.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hskfh.com