Sara Elizabeth Coughlin

Sara (Sally) Elizabeth Coughlin died of heart failure on March 22, 2024. Sally was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, James (Jim) Irving Coughlin. She is survived by her children, Kris Ann Meehling, Michael James Coughlin, and Karen Reeping. She also leaves five grandchildren, Karina, Kendrick and Keegan Pacchioni and Kacy and Zachary Reeping and two great-grandchildren Kamdyn and Kyler Mitchell. She is also survived by a brother, Edward William Wolff, and his family.

Sally was born in Rome, NY on May 28, 1938, the daughter of Edward and Dorothy Bielby Wolff and trained as a registered nurse at St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital in Utica, NY. Following her marriage to James Coughlin in 1958, she worked many years in various fields of nursing. In 1961, she accompanied her husband to Kenya where they were employed in cancer research.

After raising her three children, she returned to college and in 1982, graduated with a degree in Political Science from the University of Texas in San Antonio.

For many years she was involved with the League of Women Voters and served on state boards in Texas, Michigan, Nebraska, and North Carolina.

After moving to Durham in 1998, Sally volunteered at the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program, joined the Historic Preservation Society and Orange Factory Questers, served on the Board of the Historic Stagville Foundation, became an avid fan of the Duke Women’s basketball team and enjoyed travel, yoga and playing bridge.

Memorial gifts may be made to the American Heart Association, Duke Cancer Patient Support Program or League of Women Voters of North Carolina Education Fund in lieu of flowers.