Sarah Rova Raines

Sarah Lauren Rova Raines, age 29, passed away Friday, November 9, 2012 at River Regions Hospice, River Ridge, LA. A former Picayune resident, she was a liver transplant recipient in September 2011.Sarah lived in Biloxi prior to moving to Metairie LA to be near her liver transplant team. After many months of incredible courage, she succumbed to complications from the transplant. Her Mother, brother, Chris, and favorite cousins from St. Louis were by her side in her final hours as was James Byrd, her fiancé. James, the love of her life and her soul mate, lovingly cared for her throughout her illness and was always by her side.

She is survived by her daughter, Kiley, age 7; parents, Alice (Marty) McGrath of Carriere, MS, and Bruce (Connie) Rova of Gulf Breeze, FL; brothers, Chris Rova of Picayune, MS, and Sean (Maia) McGrath of Austin, TX.

Sarah leaves behind a host of friends and relatives who remember with love the feisty redhead who was taken far too soon. We admired the remarkable courage she displayed throughout her illness. While we miss her greatly, we are comforted knowing that she is finally pain free and in peace. We are thankful for our time with her here and look forward to being with her again in eternity.

A Celebration of Sarah's Life was held Friday, November 16, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at Picayune Funeral Home Chapel.Twenty-nine balloons were released in her memory at the end of the service.

The family thanks River Regions Hospice for making her last days as comfortable as possible. Special appreciation goes to the Ochsner Health Center Transplant Team, especially Doctors Bohorquez, Bruce, Carmody, Cohn, and Gerhardt; the GI Team, Doctors Romero and Rivera; the fantastic staff of the Transplant Stepdown Unit; the ICU nursing staff and all the dedicated professionals who fought to make her transplant a success. Sarah loved you all, even when it hurt.