THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
HOOPESTON — Animal lover Sara Rhodes was doing what was her passion when she died in an accident on Wednesday in rural Milford.
Rhodes, 64, was known locally as the manager of the Hoopeston McDonald’s restaurant, which she’s been for about 24 years, but also as being an animal rescuer.
“She was an unstoppable force. She was one in a million,” said Vermilion County Animal Shelter Adoptions Manager Kathleen Orcutt.
Orcutt had known Rhodes for about 10 years and volunteered with her too at the Hoopeston animal shelter.
“She fostered lots of dogs and did transports,” Orcutt said.
That’s what Rhodes was doing on Wednesday, coming home after a transport.
Rhodes had picked up two dogs to take to Naperville and made it there, dropping them off. However, on her way home, a two-vehicle accident occurred taking the lives of Rhodes and her new foster dog, Tootsie, who she had also picked up at the Vermilion County Animal Shelter. She had a day off work, and Rhodes’ previous foster dog had been adopted.
Volunteer shelter drivers, such as Rhodes, drive animals that are picked for rescue to corresponding rescue shelters.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Orcutt said.
She can’t believe Rhodes is gone. She said Rhodes died “doing what she lived to do.”
Rhodes did animal transports all the time, Orcutt said, with them even traveling to Texas before.
“She’s done this millions of times. She was like the Energizer Bunny,” Orcutt added, about all the rescues and transports she did.
“She did a little bit of everything,” Orcutt said.
Shelters all around will feel the loss of Rhodes, she said.
“We’re all heartbroken and in shock,” Orcutt said. “It’s such a huge loss. She was an unstoppable force and she had a great sense of humor. I’m devastated she’s gone.”
Rhodes was all about animal welfare and helping anybody any way she could, Orcutt said.
The last memory Orcutt has of talking with Rhodes on Wednesday is that Tootsie had eaten Rhodes’ breakfast sandwich and she was going to stop and get another one.
McDonald’s Owner and Operator Deanna Witzel said Rhodes was a big part of their local McDonald’s family. Rhodes had worked for McDonald’s prior to working for the Witzels when they moved here and bought the local restaurants 25 years ago. Rhodes worked her way up from crew to manager.
Witzel said they brought her back as a manager when they were looking for someone with good customer service skills. A customer had told the Witzels that they needed to get Rhodes back as an employee, and they did the next day. The rest was history.
Witzel too said animals and animal rescues were Rhodes’ passion.
“That was her. It was a part of who she was,” Witzel said.
She will be missed greatly, Witzel said.
“She’s a staple here,” Witzel added. The Witzels were in Hoopeston on Thursday morning meeting with the employees. Deanna Witzel said she was in shock when she learned the news Wednesday.
Witzel said Rhodes made a difference in a lot of lives.
“She was just an amazing person,” Witzel said.
