Memories flow back to the time when Ceil, Sally’s mother and my dear sister, would visit for the summers. Ceil was older than I; as a matter of fact, Sally—my neice—and I were closer in age than Ceil and I were. Sally and I would delight in each other. I was 10 and she was only one, but we played hide and seek together in my mother’s Bradley Beach home. She was a beautiful child, lively and happy.
After my mother (her grandmother) passed away, I spent many summers with my sister Ceil, my brother- in-law Joe Dushey and their children, including Sally, in the house they rented on 4th Avenue, in Bradley. Ceil had a housekeeper, Jean. My sister would give her the car and instruct her to take Sally and me out for the day. Sally and I were joyous as we were taken on those rides, often for ice cream. We had so much fun.
Sally had a wonderful gift—she always maintained a positive and cheerful attitude. She was a doer—if anyone could do it, Sally could! Despite hardships, including losing her mother and a year later, her father, she carried on. She raised her siblings and also cared for her nieces as if they were her own. She never felt sorry for herself because she had no children. She took in other children as a foster parent. She and her husband, Victor Setton, even received an award acknowledging their unselfish fostering of needy children.
When we were sitting shiva for my brother Max (Franco) in Florida, we phoned Sally and asked if she could help us out. Done deal! She got on a plane, arriving as fast as she could and took charge, caring for, as well as comforting, all of us.
When my sister Grace (Franco) was in need of help, after a severe operation, Sally came right over and took charge once again. When I was going through a rough time, Sally was instrumental in helping me rent a place for the summer in Bradley Beach. She sent her housekeeper, Rosie, to kosher and clean up the place for me, so that when I arrived with my family everything was spic and span. There are so many other mitzvot she did, some revealed to us, and many hidden. Sally especially liked the families to get together. She planned the very first Franco reunion and then the second.
She was a giver with no strings attached. She loved everyone and loved life. Although her passing is a great loss to us, I like to think that while we are crying here, they are clapping up above. Sally, we all love you!
