A Massachusetts community is mourning the loss of a mom of four. Carrie Sanger was beloved by everyone who knew her; now they’re coming together to honor her memory. Sanger died from a tragic fall while out hiking with three of her four children, who now have to bear the burden of seeing their mom die.
In addition to being a pillar of her community, Carrie Sanger was about to embark on a major life change before her death. Now, her family have no choice but to move forward without her.
According to a Facebook post by the Sutton Police Department, they received a 911 call on April 23. The call was for a woman who had fallen approximately 50 to 75 feet in the Purgatory Chasm state park. Police said that 49-year-old Sanger was with three of her four children at the time of her fall.
Medical professionals were also hiking Purgatory Chasm at the time of Sanger’s fall, and rushed to provide aid. Despite their efforts, she died of her injuries at the scene. While police believe that her fall was an accident, they do have an open investigation into her fall.
“We believe it was simply a loss of footing and a trip,” family friend Tim Paoli told Boston 25. “That particular part of the trail, my understanding is it’s a scarier part of the trail. We don’t believe she was on her phone or anything like that.”
Carrie Sanger was a former oncology nurse who was weeks away from opening her own wellness center in Topsfield. Those close to her spoke with the news about what an “amazing light” that she was. “She was just so calm and peaceful, and you went towards that, like a light almost,” fellow business owner Mo Levasseur told Boston 25.
Tim Paoli and his wife Brooke started a GoFundMe to help Sanger’s husband Mike and her four children. They described her as “a wonderful, selfless mother who has raised four incredible, respectful, responsible kids.” Additionally, they called her a “friend to all.”
Mike Sanger spoke with WCVB about his late wife, calling her “an amazing, amazing human.” He went on to call her “the brightness and the light on a dark day for a lot of people.” The couple would be celebrating their 20th anniversary in September.
“The kids and I have been talking about her, printed out some pictures, and telling stories,” Mike Sanger said. “Just because she’s not physically here doesn’t mean she’s gone.”
After the unexpected loss of his wife, Mike Sanger has one message for others. “Hug your kids. Tell the people around you that you love them if you do.”
