We lost Sally Lamare this spring, a valued volunteer and member, and we’d like to acknowledge what a special woman she was and that she will be sorely missed in our ranks. Sally always brought a sunny smile and cheerful, uplifting energy to those she visited. She never forgot a friends birthday – she had many friends – and always came with a bundle of balloons and a stirring rendition of the Happy Birthday song. We love and miss you Sally.
Below you’ll find Sally’s obituary.
In loving memory of Sally Jean Lamare
September 24, 1939 – April 19, 2020
The world lost a shining light the morning of Sunday, April 19th, when Sally Lamare (née Michler) died suddenly in her bedroom at the age of 80. “Ma Sally” was a loving wife, mother, grandma, sister, aunt, cousin, friend and a vibrant member of the New Denver community. She will be deeply missed by her two remaining children and their spouses: her second son Steve (Karen) and her daughter Diana (Dennis); her six grandchildren: Madison (Travis), William, Jake, Kelsey, Alison and Gemma; her two great grandchildren: Skyler and Cash; her younger brother John (Cvetka); her nieces and nephews: David, Nancy and Brian (Lisa); all her in-laws and nieces and nephews on Barry’s side; and her close friend Tommy. She also touched the lives of countless friends, colleagues and neighbours. Sally was predeceased by Barry, her lifelong love and husband of nearly 51 years, her first son Joey, her father Harold Michler, and her mother Carolyn (Quixley) (Michler) Kline.
Sally was born in Glendale, California, and raised in the San Fernando Valley. At the sweet age of 16, Sally met Barry, fell in love, and they graduated together from Van Nuys High School in 1957. A year later, they were married, on October 25, 1958, and then got busy having babies in 1959 (Joey), 1963 (Steve) and 1965 (Diana). In 1973, all three of her kids proudly watched her walk across the stage when she graduated from university with a major in art, a minor in English and a teaching certificate. When they immigrated to Canada in 1975, they left Los Angeles far behind and created a new life in Perry Siding, BC, where they built a home, raised their kids, cows and chickens, grew a thriving organic garden and began their woodworking business “What Knot Works.” Sally’s colourful name hangings now dangle from hundreds of walls from Winlaw to Waikiki.
Sally also kept busy as an energetic and encouraging substitute teacher until she retired from teaching at age 65. In 1992, they moved to New Denver, where Sally quickly became an active member of the community and cheerfully attended every party, parade, potluck and protest right until the day before she died. Sally made her mark simply by being Sally. She was known for calling everyone on their birthday and/or anniversary every year, handing out balloons, flowers and Werther’s candies, buying cookies and muffins at the Apple Tree and then giving them away, supporting any and all local artists, buying every book written about the community, and always having dog treats in her pockets and a flower in her hair. She has left a heart-shaped hole in all of us, but it is comforting to know she is reunited with Barry and Joey at long last. It only seems appropriate to end this the same way Sally always ended a phone call: “Thank you…I love you.”