By Thea Jarvis

Over the past week, students and staff at St. Jude the Apostle School in Sandy Springs attempted to cope with the violent death of one of the school's most faithful parent volunteers.

Sara Ambrusko Tokars, 39, was shot and killed Nov. 29 after returning to her Cobb County home following the Thanksgiving holidays.

The wife of a well-known attorney, Fredric Tokars, she was also the mother of two young children, who were reportedly present when she was shot. The three were abducted from their home at gunpoint and Mrs. Tokars was shot as she drove the car a half-mile from her home, with her two sons and the gunman in the vehicle.

The boys were physically unharmed.

Mrs. Tokars was a member of St. Jude's since 1986. Her older son, Rick, six, attends kindergarten at St. Jude's School. Younger son Michael, four, is enrolled in the parish Mother's Morning Out program.

Funeral services for Mrs. Tokars were held at St. Jude's Church Dec. 4. Father David Talley concelebrated the Mass with the pastor, Father Daniel O'Connor.

Mrs. Tokars, an elementary school teacher in Florida before beginning her family, was "a very visible person in the community," said Ronald Svoboda, principal of St. Jude's School. She was always cheerful and upbeat, he said. "Those kind of people are a joy to be around."

Svoboda, who, with assistant principal and school counselor, Barbara Poole, met with individual classes at St. Jude's to help students deal with the tragedy, characterized Mrs. Tokars as a person who "truly lived Gospel values, family values. That's part of the reason why (her death) is so shocking."

As one of two "Spiritual Life Parents" for the kindergarten class, Mrs. Tokars assisted teachers in sharing the practical aspects of religion. She planned para-liturgies and developed student service projects.

Most recently, Mrs. Tokars helped coordinate the collection of Christmas toys from St. Jude's student body to be delivered to needy children in Appalachia.

"Sara got the toys together before Thanksgiving," Mrs. Poole said. "She helped in whatever way she could."

Mrs. Poole, a counselor for archdiocesan Catholic schools before coming to St. Jude's four years ago, encouraged students to express their emotions after the slaying.

"It was a very bad, sad thing that happened," she explained to the children. "We have tears. Being sad is okay."

Mrs. Poole assured students that "God will take care of Sara and the boys," she said, avoiding any "bad theology" that linked God causally with such an event.

"She was a very generous, loving person," Mrs. Poole pointed out, someone who enjoyed making up games for the children, playing along with them. It was important that students had an opportunity to grieve the loss of someone who "loved to share with all children," who "made the children feel special."

The close-knit community of St. Jude's and the wider community has shown their concern, Svoboda indicated. Counselors from Northside Hospital's Psychological Services unit who met with students and others have offered their time and expertise to the school.

"A lot of fear has been awakened," Svoboda said. People are "trying to find some meaning," learning how to deal with the grief and loss.

Mrs. Tokars, who was born and raised in Buffalo, N.Y., is survived by her parents, Dr. John and Mrs. Phyllis Ambrusko, who reside in Florida. She is also survived by her six sisters, Therese, Gretchen, Mary, Joni, Karen and Krissy.

Speaking on behalf of her family, one sister said she felt Mrs. Tokars emulated her father in her enthusiasm, optimism and devout faith. From their mother, she said, she learned qualities of goodness and gentleness.

"She has been described as a great gift of joy to the kids," Father Talley said of his deceased parishioner, "a blanket of love."

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude the Apostle School, 7171 Glenridge Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30328.