Influencer Sara Bennett Announces Her Own Death at 39

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Sara Bennett left her loved ones with a heartfelt message.

It’s with a heavy heart that I share the news of a truly inspiring woman’s passing. This incredible influencer and advocate, who bravely battled ALS for nearly three years, recently announced her own death on social media. She was just 39, and her strength and openness throughout her journey were a testament to the human spirit. It’s a reminder to cherish every moment and live life to the fullest.

In an Instagram post on January 13th, Sara shared that she wasn’t experiencing pain or fatigue and was still able to laugh, talk, and move. Alongside a remembrance card and photo, she wrote that looking back on her final months, she was grateful she didn’t pass away unexpectedly, even with the difficulties she faced. She felt she had accomplished everything she wanted to before the end.

Speaking about what she often called “the after” online, the 39-year-old said, “Even if you’re not spiritual, my body will return to the earth and nourish the plants around it. I cherished my life and am thankful for the time I had.”

Sara initially started a social media account called The Ananda Edit to share her passion for lifestyle organization, which grew into a small business. After being diagnosed with ALS in March 2023, she renamed it The Ananda Pivot. Since then, she’s been using the platform to raise awareness about ALS and document her life with her husband, Rusty, and their two sons, Lincoln, 9, and William, 7.

In a May 2024 Instagram post, she acknowledged that even when life takes an unexpected and difficult turn, it’s not necessarily all negative. While it’s important to grieve for lost possibilities, she emphasized the need to focus on making the most of a challenging situation.

As she neared the end of her life, Sara planned ahead by creating an end-of-life ceremony and documenting her family’s holiday traditions. She asked friends and family to carry on these traditions to keep her loved ones connected and provide extra help for her husband.

She also mentioned that, even though the illness had taken a great deal from her, she was proud to have used her voice to support others.

In a recent blog post on Her ALS Story, Sara explained how her online platform allowed her to continue sharing her thoughts, teaching others, and offering support. She purposefully channeled her deep sadness into creative thinking and used her account as a way to process her emotions and express herself, considering it an important part of her journey.

She expressed deep gratitude, saying she shouldn’t have been given the chance to share her experiences as a mother facing death. Her final message was a plea for kindness and a reminder to fully embrace life.

Read on for other influencers who have announced their own deaths. 

The social media personality, who had been living with ALS for three years, shared news of her passing online at the age of 39.

In a January 2026 Instagram post, Sara shared that she felt good – no pain, no fatigue, and still able to laugh, talk, and move. Looking back on her final months, she expressed gratitude that her illness didn’t take her quickly, despite the difficulties. She felt a sense of peace knowing she had accomplished everything she wanted to do.

Speaking about what she called “the after” online, she said, “Even if you’re not spiritual, I’m returning to the earth and nourishing a tree with my remains. I cherished my life and am thankful for the time I had.”

Just two months before she passed away, she thought about her life and urged people to make the most of their own time.

In a November 2025 blog post on Her ALS Story, Sara expressed deep gratitude, saying she cherished the chance to share her experiences as a mother facing a terminal illness. She encouraged readers to be kind to one another and to fully embrace life.

Suzanne Verner, a former choreographer for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and a star on the 2020 Netflix reality show Country Ever After with her ex-husband, Coffey Anderson, has passed away at the age of 45 after a seven-year fight with colon cancer.

In a December 2025 Instagram post shared by her friend Lindsey Villatoro, she wrote a final message saying she had peacefully passed away, finding comfort in her faith. She asked those grieving not to dwell on sadness, emphasizing that she had lived and loved fully and fought bravely.

Criscilla spoke directly to her children – Ethan, Emmarie, and Everleigh – and Coffey’s daughter from a previous relationship, Savannah, telling them they mean everything to her.

To Ethan, she said, “You made me a mom, and I’ll always be your biggest supporter.” She then turned to Savannah, calling her a wonderful surprise and a true blessing. To Emmarie, her sweet, faith-filled dancer, she encouraged her to keep pursuing her passion through all of life’s stages. And to Everleigh, her energetic and shining daughter, she urged her to fearlessly chase her dreams.

Criscilla said, “My children… I’m still with you, watching over you. If you ever feel a comforting warmth, a sense of familiarity, or something truly beautiful that seems like more than just chance—that’s me. I’m still your mother, and I’ll always be there for you.”

Tanner Martin, a social media influencer who bravely shared his five-year fight with colon cancer—including his life with wife Shay and daughter AmyLou—has passed away. He announced his own death personally.

In a video shared on Instagram in June 2025, Tanner announced, “If you’re seeing this, it means I’ve passed away.”

Tanner, who was 30 years old when he died, decided to create a video announcing his passing. He’d seen someone else do something similar and thought it would be a good way to share his final thoughts and highlight his wife and daughter, whom he lovingly called “Jiaozi.”

In his video, he shared, “I’ve had a wonderful life.” He expressed his sincere gratitude to everyone for their support and love during his time with them and for his family. He then asked for continued prayers for his wife, Shay, and their daughter, Jiaozi.”

The influencer thanked his followers, and his last wish was for them to keep his family in their thoughts and prayers.

“It was a good life,” Tanner said, reflecting on his time. “I’m glad I got to experience it. I hope there’s something more, and that we’ll meet again. I’m especially looking forward to seeing loved ones who have passed, and knowing they’re finally at peace and happy.”

In October 2024, Bella Bradford, a TikTok creator, announced her death following a fight with a rare cancer affecting her jaw. She was 24 years old.

In a heartfelt video, Bella shared that she had sadly passed away after a battle with terminal cancer. She wanted to create one last ‘Get Ready With Me’ video, something she truly enjoyed, because of her passion for fashion. She expressed her gratitude to her followers for joining her on this journey and hoped they would continue to watch her videos and find moments of happiness whenever they needed it.

And despite the heartbreaking circumstances, Bella left followers with a hopeful note. 

“Remember that you live every day and you only die once,” she explained, “so everything helps.”

In October 2024, an Australian television presenter revealed she had passed away in a post on Instagram. She had been living with motor neuron disease, a condition similar to ALS, for three years.

Fiona shared a message on Instagram with pictures of her and her sons, Harry and Rafe, explaining that she was leaving and hoping to watch over them. Her sister, Kylie, posted the message for her, saying Fiona hoped to be ‘looking down from a cloud.’

And the 67-year-old did not hide the debilitating effect her disease had on the end of her life. 

She confessed that the previous night marked the end of a really difficult period. Although she never wished for death, the idea of escaping her physical pain brought her some comfort.

She ended with a hopeful message, saying she didn’t want to say goodbye completely, as she looked forward to seeing them again. She promised to cherish their love and laughter, and hoped they would remember hers.

Kimberley Nix, a Canadian influencer, passed away in May 2024. For three years, she had openly shared her experiences fighting metastatic sarcoma online.

In a TikTok video, Kimberley announced to her followers that she had died peacefully.

The 31-year-old influencer, a doctor who trained in internal medicine, described her happy life and listed some of her favorite things: her pets, makeup, and her husband, Michael MacIsaac.

Kimberley, who was diagnosed with a health condition in 2021 and has since used social media to raise awareness about it, also thanked her online followers for their support.

She expressed her gratitude, saying, “I love you all, and I’m so thankful for this incredible experience.” Overcome with emotion, she added that this opportunity had given her a renewed sense of purpose, especially later in life, bringing her to tears of joy.

In February 2024, Daniella Thackray announced her passing on Facebook. She had been bravely fighting cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and fast-moving cancer that affects the bile ducts in the liver.

Danielle, from Leeds in the UK, wrote this message to be shared after her death from cancer. She explained that while we can’t control life’s events, we can control our response to them. Even though she was heartbroken, she chose to focus on enjoying the time she had remaining rather than dwelling on what she was losing.

Despite her cancer having no known cause or cure, the 24-year-old expressed hope for future research, while also sharing that she had lived a full and meaningful life.

In her farewell message, Daniella encouraged everyone to find joy in everyday moments and truly appreciate life. She urged people to prioritize their own happiness and not let anyone diminish their enjoyment of it. She signed off with a warm ‘x’.

It absolutely broke my heart reading Daniella’s last message. She wrote to Tom Calvert, her fiancé, and said, ‘I love you and always will. Go enjoy your life now, you deserve it.’ It was such a selfless and beautiful thing to say, even at the very end. I can’t imagine how much that message means to him.

Paul Harrell, a popular YouTube reviewer of firearms with over a million subscribers, passed away from pancreatic cancer in September 2024. He posthumously shared a video titled “I’m Dead” on his YouTube channel.

In a video recorded in December 2023, Paul stated, “If you’re watching this, I’m gone.”

In a recent video, Paul shared that despite an early diagnosis, his cancer quickly spread to his bones. He realized this meant he didn’t have much time left.

Paul expressed his gratitude to everyone who has supported his work by watching, liking, commenting, sharing, subscribing, or donating through Patreon, simply saying, “Thank you.”

As he put it, “I can’t even begin to articulate how beneficial and appreciated those things are.”

I was really touched when he took the time to apologize to all of us fans for suddenly leaving. It meant a lot, especially considering how unexpected everything was.

He shared that he’d expected to continue working this way for another decade or more, but his diagnosis meant he only had a few months left. He expressed his regret, saying he felt like he’d disappointed everyone.

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2026-01-15 01:20