Sally Owens Obituary, Death – My cousin Sally Owens passed away at the age of 89, and I was saddened to hear the news. Problems arising from a fall causing head trauma ended her journey.
There is solace in the knowledge that she passed away with the love and support of her family by her side, including Jerry Owens and Theresa TC Goodwin-Carr, who contacted me to share the tragic news. Sally and I had a brief but profound acquaintance.
I had the honor of finally meeting her at a restaurant close to her York, PA, home on July 3rd and 4th of last year. Richard Cleary, my cousin, and several of her children and their families were present at the gathering. In that brief time, I was able to observe Sally in all her charming glory – her humor, her unbridled love.
Love and perseverance were the defining characteristics of Sally’s life. Their dedication to family was an inspiration to everyone who knew them; they raised eight children together with her late husband, Norman. Sally’s heart was broken when Norman died a few years ago, but she kept her strength and positivity shining through and continued to embrace life.
Her great-grandfather, John Cleary, was my great-uncle, and her mother, Anna Cleary, was his sister. Sally was born on June 15, 1934. Sally was shaped in her early years by a connection that her father, John Somers, an Irish butler, made with Anna through the Cleary Employment Bureau. Tragically, Sally’s father died when she was only eighteen years old, leaving her and her younger sister, Gidget Schrott, to face the difficulties of adulthood on their own.
While Norman was in the military, Sally traveled the world with him. In the 1960s, they returned to Pittsburgh and eventually settled in York, Pennsylvania, where they built a home and shared innumerable precious moments. Even though she had deep roots in York, Sally’s daring nature allowed her to see the globe, and her travels, particularly her unforgettable journey to Ireland, are proof of that.
Sally jumped at the chance for excitement and joy in her last months of life. Even though she has left this world, her laughter and love will live on in the hearts of those who remember her and in the memories they hold dear. As we grieve for Sally, may we find comfort in knowing that she is at peace with her ancestors and the Divine, where she will spend eternity.
Funeral Arrangements will be announced by family members
