Sarah Elizabeth Turoczi

Sarah “Sallie” Elizabeth Edwards Turoczi stepped into the presence of her Savior, surrounded by her loving husband & children on Saturday night, December 16, 2023, after a valiant year-long battle with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer.

Sallie was born on May 7th, 1942 to her cherished parents, engineer Thomas “Howard” Edwards, Jr and artist Elizabeth “Libbie” Larrimore Edwards, in Wilmington, DE. Her dear, brilliant father went to be with the Lord when she was only 15 years old, and she lived with a mother with a congenital condition, in & out of the hospital. After attending Souderton High School & graduating from Pennridge High School, while accomplishing and advancing as a Drum Majorette, she worked for the Bell Telephone Company for 2 years in order to help her widowed mother. During her high school years & after, her mother’s main source of income was as a portrait artist on the Ocean City, NJ boardwalk each summer, while Sallie assisted and framed artwork.

Sallie went on to attend The King’s College in Briarcliff Manor, NY (where her mother had been a Professor when it was located in New Castle, DE) but then left 2 years later to assist her mother (in declining health) by facilitating her speaking engagements (as Libby was Guest Speaker AND Special Feature/artist) and she herself provided the music at many Christian Women’s Club events, & ladies’ retreats up & down the east coast.

Sallie met her husband of over 56 years, Alexander Turoczi Jr., during this time, back at a birthday gathering at King’s College, & was married 2 years later with the plan of entering full-time ministry together.

Immediately following Sallie’s marriage, her mother became the pianist, and Sallie the in-house vocalist, as they ministered & supported Sallie’s new husband as pastor of Brigantine Bible Church for 2 years.

Trans World Radio, their mission organization, then sent them to Monte Carlo, Monaco, where she lived for almost 9 years, and where her dear mother passed away during a month-long visit. Was a difficult time of planning a US funeral while outside of the country, then flying her body back home. She taught new Czech & Hungarian missionary wives English as 2nd/3rd language, since mission organization office operated entirely in English, while living in a country which required knowledge of the French language. Living in the south of France gave her a cherished opportunity to visit many countries, Switzerland & Norway being her favorites, and also drive the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix track during the off-hours.

Her next residency was the island of Guam for 2 years, as she & Alex continued to serve the Lord, before being sent back stateside to represent the mission at church conferences & colleges. Based out of Sallie’s mother’s home in Ocean City, NJ, which she had inherited, Sallie established ‘Increasing Joy Ministries’ as the designation for the many separate speaking engagements, seminars & ladies’ retreats she found herself being offered. She traveled on her own to many churches & events within a 2HR radius of south Jersey speaking & sharing about Christ’s love & faithfulness …receiving many notifications of lives changed/trusting in the Lord for the first time because of her sharing & testimony.

Increasing Joy Ministry continued upon their move to Lancaster County, PA in 1987 and even led to more Bible studies & teaching, including at Lancaster Bible College Evening Institute (courses for women) for 17 years. Her quote “Do What is Right” was developed during this time, and during her travels she sold many framed copies of:

“Do what is right, because it’s right.

Not because it’s convenient;

it usually isn’t.

Not because you feel like it;

you usually don’t.

And not because you even want to;

because sometimes we don’t even want to do what is right. But you do what’s right because God said so!” -Sallie Edwards Turoczi ©️1994

Sallie & her husband retired after 42 years with Trans World Radio, July 2011, then celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary 2017, yet she continued some ministry events and supporting her husband with his preaching/pulpit supplying. She also volunteered 1 morning/week at the community ReUzit Shop of New Holland and still taught a weekly, local women’s Bible Study at friends’ request.

She loved music, singing & playing her guitar (writing more than 35 songs over the years with her guitar), swimming laps in their backyard pool, enjoying get togethers with family & friends and sharing about His love & faithfulness every chance she had.

Sallie and Alex had 2 children, Lori Elisabeth Turoczi & Michael Thomas Turoczi (married to Denise Spangler Turoczi) and 4 grandchildren, Matthew Edwards, Sheridan Monét, Ethan Paul & Ella Marie. Family was incredibly important to Sallie as she had no siblings that lived, lost her father at a very young age & her mother at age of 34.

Sallie was predeceased by her parents, Thomas “Howard” Edwards Jr. & Elizabeth “Libbie” Larrimore Edwards. She is survived by her husband Alex; Alex’s sister Evelyn Wrzosek & husband Jerome; her children Lori, Michael & wife Denise; and her grandchildren Matthew, Sheridan, Ethan & Ella.

Sallie’s family will be having a private Memorial Visitation. All are invited to a Celebration Of Life which will take place at Lancaster Alliance Church, 210 Pitney Rd, Lancaster PA on Saturday, May 4th at 11:00AM, followed by an in-house reception.

You are also invited to visit & comment on Sallie’s Memorial Website at https://everloved.com/life-of/sarah-turoczi/

Groff High Funeral Home in New Holland is entrusted with the funeral arrangements.