FLORENCE: Gone too soon – a young life mourned

By Amber Cox, The Packet Group
   FLORENCE — Mourners gathered at the Florence United Methodist Church, on Second Street, Sunday to remember the life of 18-year-old Sarah Townsend.
   Florence Police Chief Stephen Fazekas estimated 1,000 people were present throughout the night to pay tribute to Sarah.
   Loudspeakers were set up in the adjacent parking lot so the crowd could follow the service since the church could accommodate only 120 people.
   At the service, Pastor Jack Foster of Florence United, where Sarah was baptized, told one of his favorite stories about a caterpillar that turned into a beautiful butterfly.
   ”The caterpillar becomes overwhelmed by a scary feeling and it tries to run away, but it can’t,” he said Monday. “He’s suddenly in darkness and then becomes a beautiful butterfly.
   ”It’s an illustration. I was trying to say that Sarah is fine and she’s made a transformation into a beautiful place.”
   Buses were provided by the Upper Freehold Regional School District, where Sarah had been a senior at Allentown High School, to shuttle people to Florence so they could attend the memorial. Buses also were provided by the township to shuttle people to the church from the municipal complex and Veterans Memorial Park.
   Chief Fazekas said fire police volunteers were helping control pedestrian traffic for the evening to ensure that everyone made it safely to and from the service.
   Sarah went missing May 9 and was last seen by her parents at 7 a.m. when she was leaving for Allentown High School. Her car was later discovered, still running with the driver’s door open, purse and cell phone inside, by her boyfriend, Matt Welsh, at 10 a.m. at Green Acres Park near Sherman’s Pond in Burlington Township.
   ”It’s unreal,” Sarah’s father, Roy Townsend, said last week. “I believe I was blessed with her for 18 years. She’s my angel.”
   Following Sarah’s disappearance, a large search ensued May 9 after her car was discovered at the park. A full-day search May 9 and 10 turned up no evidence. The search of the area was called off May 12, but police decided to try another search without volunteers, utilizing the canine unit in an effort to get some evidence.
   During the initial search, more than 100 people, along with tracking dogs were helping. A helicopter from the New Jersey State Police also was used to do an overhead search.
   Mr. Townsend said so many people have done good things for his family, and Sarah brought the community together.
   An autopsy determined Sarah’s death was caused by drowning. There were no signs of trauma to her body and no indications foul play contributed to her death, according to Burlington County Medical Examiner Ian Hood. The final autopsy determination is pending the results of toxicology tests, which will take several weeks.
   A memorial fund has been set up in Sarah’s honor, and those wishing to donate can do so by visiting www.facebook.com/sarahtownsendmemorialfund and following the PayPal account link. People also can visit any Roma Bank and mention the memorial fund to send a donation through the bank.