Sarah Shanks "Lucy Lesko" Hudson

Sarah Shanks (Hudson) (Lucy Lesko) of Livonia, Michigan passed away suddenly on Sunday, September 18th at St Mary's Hospital in Livonia, at the age of 40.  She died after complications from a surgery earlier in the week.

Sarah was born at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital on August 16, 1982 at 1:09pm and raised in both Toowoomba and Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. She graduated from Elanora State High School in 1999 and completed her Bachelor’s degree at Griffith University in 2007. Sarah had multiple professional roles in account administration and marketing throughout her career in Australia

She lived parts of her life in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney before coming to Michigan from Australia in 2020 to study her passion in theater design at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.  Her friends in America came to know her as Lucy, a favorite nickname of hers. Her mother Heather used to sometimes call her “Lucy Locket” as a toddler. 

Lucy met her true Love, her husband Andy (Andres) Lesko early in 2021.  She moved to Livonia to live with Andy and attended Schoolcraft College.  They were just recently married at their home on August 6, 2022.  She had just turned 40 on August 16.

Andy, his family, and her family are all shocked and devastated.  No one even considered that something like this could happen to someone so young and healthy. 

Her family has raced from around the world to be here.  Her parents and Aunt had just left a few weeks ago, after spending a month here for the wedding.  Thankfully they were able to experience one of the happiest periods of her life.

Lucy was loved by so many people, all around the world.  And she loved them back.  She touched so many lives in her short time here on Earth.  She is survived by her husband Andy, his children Molly and Maggie, her parents Michael and Heather Shanks, her brothers Aaron and Ian, her sisters Emma and Tania, and countless aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews in Australia.

Lucy loved her fur babies, having her partner in crime, a cat called Balti by her side for two decades up until July 2020.  She brought her beloved big baby Border Collie cross Kelpie “Ace” with her to the United States. She then added to her family Andy’s puppy Sammie, and kitties Pepper and Grayson. Her most recent project was raising seven chicks for dream chicken coop. 

A celebration of her life will be held at their house in Livonia on Saturday, September 24, 2022.  Anyone who knew and loved Lucy (or Andy) is welcome to attend.

Feel free to stop by anytime from 4:00pm to 9:00pm.  Please dress as you feel comfortable.  No "funeral" attire or suits are necessary.  Some of her favorite outfits were checkered flannel shirts and overalls, but feel free to wear whatever you like.  No need to bring anything except your memories of Lucy.  At 6:00pm, we will take time for anyone who would like to speak about the impact Lucy had on their life or share a happy memory of her.

Lucy’s dream was to pursue a career in Costume and Set design so in lieu of flowers, feel free to make donations in her memory to local theater programs.