Salley Mae (Henley) Aranjo, 68, of New Bedford completed her journey on earth on April 28 2020 at Sacred Heart Home with the caring help and love of Community Nurse Hospice and facility staff, ending an extended battle with a rare melanoma in the most peaceful of ways.
Born in Oak Bluffs, she was the daughter of the late Theodore and Millicent (Salley) Henley. She enjoyed an island childhood filled with salt water, sunburns, sand, sunshine and tourists. In 1986, she made the move to Fairhaven to start a new off-island life, eventually moving to New Bedford. Salley worked as a court clerical worker for her entire adult life, starting in Martha's Vineyard then retiring from the Third District Court in New Bedford.
Salley was the most dynamic woman this world may have ever seen. She tried nearly anything once and lived to "beat the odds!" From teaching knitting to teaching karate, she was always proving everyone around her that there was nothing she couldn't do. That “can do” attitude proved useful as, year after year, she survived a cancer that she was told would end her within nine months. She took her diagnosis and 6-9 month prognosis with the grace of a true warrior. She used that borrowed universal time to travel, visit family, go to the beach and see grandkids graduate, grow and enter the world, all with knitting in her hand and a smile on her face. Her borrowing of universal time was exhilarating to her, to us, it was absolutely mesmerizing to witness. A true testament to the power of the mind.
Salley is survived by her children, Elizabeth Rose, Jessica (Rose) Landers and her husband David, Angela Aranjo, and John Aranjo; her husband, Richard E. Aranjo; her brother, Rick Henley; and multiple biological and inherited grandkids, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. She was loved and survived by so many.
There will be two celebrations of life, dates to be announced when the current social distancing bans are lifted. We will be celebrating both in Martha's Vineyard and Fairhaven. In lieu of flowers, please make a charitable donation to the cause of your choice and consider picking up knitting in honor of her life passion. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.