Sara Carano, longtime member of the Metro Philadelphia family, passed away on Saturday, March 15, after a long battle with cancer.
Sara is survived by her parents, Fred and Marj Carano, her sister, Molly, as well as her longtime life partner, Josh Janisak. She passed away peacefully in her Bella Vista home surrounded by loved ones.
Born in West Orange, New Jersey, Sara earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (Theater/Acting) from the University of the Arts, and went on to achieve a successful career in marketing and advertising with Altus Agency, City Paper, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Metro Philadelphia.
Sara was a beloved member of the local comedy scene as well, and a member of the Waitstaff sketch comedy troupe performing at famous venues like World Cafe Live and Helium Comedy Club.
“She loved making people smile, both on the stage and off, and it made people feel really comfortable around her,” Janisak said. “She had an amazing sense of humor.”
Sara placed classified ads for Metro and frequently engaged with readers, providing support and a compassionate ear. The paper’s classified section can draw a mix of intriguing individuals, and Sara treated them all with respect and kindness.
“Sara went out of her way to help guide and assist each person, even if it didn’t add up to a sale or some random person called in looking for some kind of help,” Janisak said. “This applies to how she treated each and every individual in her life—with open arms, no judgement, grace, and always willing to help.”
Sara was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and underwent extensive treatments in the following years. She worked up until 2 months before her death, even while hospitalized. Janisak recalls her tenacious spirit and strength.
“She dealt with so much pain and suffering, yet she never complained, went low, or grabbed onto self-pity,” he said. “She had amazing resilience and a strong will to live. I don’t know how she kept her head up, pushed on as long as she did… She smiled, laughed, and was a complete joy to be around.”
