Sarah Oivanki

Sarah Catherine Henderson Oivanki passed away Sunday, July 12, 2026 at Ochsner Medical Center. Sarah was born in Boston, MA February 18, 1951 and within months was adopted by Wilmah and Charles Henderson. In 1956 the family moved to Louisiana. She graduated from Walker High School in 1969 and from Southeastern Louisiana University with a degree in nursing in 1973. Upon graduation, Sarah enlisted in the Navy and was stationed at NAS Jacksonville, Florida for a period of two years. She was devoted to her nursing career helping others. She was a very kind and gentle nurse and very proud of her service in the Navy. Two days after her service in the Navy, she married Gregory Oivanki, who she had met on a family camping trip in 1970. Sarah and Gregory settled in Denham Springs where she worked at Baton Rouge General Mid-City, then Dixon Memorial Hospital in Denham Springs, then back at Baton Rouge General Mid-City working in the Chemical Dependency Unit. Her nursing career spanned 46 years, retiring from Ochsner Medical Center where she was the Night Shift nurse on the telemetry floor.

During her nursing career Sarah formed close friendships with three of her coworkers, Ellen, Christa and Cathy. They spent thirty-plus years working, loving, and supporting one another in the building on O’Neal Lane and continued after retirement, getting together every month for lunch. They called themselves “the Ochsner Beauties.” She also had a life-long friendship beginning in grammar school with Ricci, who she cherished immensely.

Sarah had family ties to New England where she and Gregory traveled frequently, as they both loved to travel. She was a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan. She loved the Fall season colors and everything related to the New England area and chose that décor for her home. She and Gregory especially enjoyed two trips to Kenya and one to Botswana, Africa where she saw her favorite animals: the lion, Simba, and lioness, Simba Jike.

Sarah was predeceased by her parents, Wilmah and Charles Henderson, her in-laws, Kaarlo and Marion Oivanki, her brother-in-law, C. Scott Cannon and an adoptive sister. She is survived by her adoring husband of 51 years Gregory, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Stephen Oivanki (Jan), Paula Oivanki Cannon, Millie Oivanki Bailey (Kirk), Lisa Oivanki, Anna Oivanki Lucas, two adoptive sisters and many nieces and nephews, including her godchild, Rachael Cannon Koske.

Sarah was a kind, patient, loyal, humble, true friend and a lover of cats, especially lions. She will be greatly missed by all those who loved her.

Visitation will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Denham Springs on Monday, July 20, 2026 from 10am until the funeral service at 11am. Family visitation will begin at 9:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to your favorite charity.