On April 1, a 42-year-old Wisconsin woman tragically lost her life in a car accident five hours after bidding her husband farewell at his funeral.

Just hours after attending the funeral of her husband Louis Nowak, Sara Nowak died in a car accident. Louis had battled cancer for six months before passing away on March 19. Sara went to his funeral on Saturday and died later that day in a single-vehicle collision on State Highway 106 close to Calkins Road in Palmyra, Wisconsin.

Paul Milbrath, the Sheriff for Jefferson County, said that Nowak was a passenger when the driver reportedly lost control of the car. Unfortunately, both occupants passed away at the scene as the car then slid into a ditch and overturned, ejecting one of the passengers. First responders helped, but there was nothing they could do to save the two victims who had already succumbed to their wounds.

Patricia Cartwright, Nowak’s mother, revealed that she believed her daughter couldn’t survive without her husband and is now with him. Her father, Randal Cartwright, described her as a happy person who always helped others and said that the previous months had been traumatic for his daughter and son-in-law as she cared for him while he battled the disease. He recalled how heartbreaking it was for him to learn of Sara’s tragic passing only five and a half hours after his son-in-law’s funeral. 

Louis and Sara had six kids together from their prior marriages. In an interview with a local news station, Cartwright referred to them as a true match before their 2017 wedding.

Sara will be remembered for her friendliness and inclusivity. Everyone was family to her, according to her obituary, and she always had room for more. She loved having adventures and creating memories with her husband and their kids.

Although the accident is still under investigation, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, it is obvious that the community has lost two cherished people.