Sarah Wills

Mrs. Sarah Rodriguez Wills, 83, entered the arms of the Lord on Monday, July 25, 2022, in her home in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, surrounded by the care and love of her family.

We respectfully request that no one arrive at the funeral home prior to the posted visitation times, so as not to intrude on the family’s private time. 

Family and friends are invited to the visitation in the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle Street, Linden on Wednesday, August 3^rd. from 5:00-9:00PM and Thursday, August 4^th. from 9:00- 11:00AM.  At the conclusion of the Thursday visitation, there will be a prayer service and final good-byes in the funeral home, followed by the prayers of committal which will precede Mrs. Wills’s burial in the family plot in Rosehill Cemetery, Linden, New Jersey.  Flowers will be appreciated and accepted or donations for the family's expenses can be sent or given to Rosemary Rivera.  

Mrs. Wills, the daughter of the late Sotera Garcia Rodriguez and the late Ceferino Rodriguez, was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico.  When Mrs. Wills came to the mainland United States, she resided in Brooklyn, New York for fifty years before relocating to Hazleton, Pennsylvania twenty years ago.

Mrs. Wills was a hardworking and dedicated lady.  She was self-employed as the owner and operator of Flowers by Maria in Brooklyn, New York for over twenty years.  Owning her own business was a seven day a week, three hundred and sixty-five days a year labor of love and she finally earned her retirement in 2002.

Mrs. Wills was a wiz at decorating, and she made sure everything was visually impressive especially during the holiday season.  She was also a deeply religious woman who loved to attend her local church – Englesia de Salvacion, where she was very active within her church community.  When free time was on her horizon, Mrs. Wills took to the road, enjoying cross country travel, sometimes with a specific destination in mind & other times, just freewheeling wherever life would have her travel.  Shopping was also high on her list of pleasurable ways to spend her time.  Mrs. Wills truly enjoyed finding the bargains, whether shopping online, in neighborhood stores or in nearby malls.  Even with all these activities to fill her time, Mrs. Wills would drop everything in a heartbeat if it meant that she would be spending time with her family that she adored and cherished.  There is nothing in this world that gave her greater pleasure than being with her family, whether it was a huge party, a backyard BBQ or simply some coffee and cake at the kitchen table.

Predeceased by her husband, Bruce Wills and her daughter, Sarita Rivera, Mrs. Wills is survived by her six children, Edwin Rodriguez, Maria Acevedo, Damariz Rivera, Israel Rivera, Inez Perrault and Rosemary Rivera; her brother, Daniel Rodriguez and her nineteen grandchildren. 

Mrs. Wills was a loving, caring and devoted wife, mother, sister, and grandmother.   We were all so fortunate to have such as large part of her in our lives.  Her presence, her footprint, her aura can never be extinguished or replaced.  We knew how much she loved us, without ever having to hear her utter those words.  Her eyes, her smile, her love for us was always on display for all to see.  Our Mom, our Grandmother, our Sister will be deeply missed, but she will never be forgotten.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.