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Sally O'Shea
February 22, 2021

Obituary

Sally (Thorn) O’Shea, age 62, passed away peacefully with her loving husband by her side on Feb. 22, 2021 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. She was born on June 17, 1958 in Niagara Falls, NY to John and Janet Thorn. She grew up in Williamstown, MA where she volunteered at the Williamstown Theatre. She attended Bates College and completed her degree at UMass Amherst, Class of 1982. After graduating, she spent time working at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, CT and the McCarter Theater Company in Princeton, NJ. After moving back to MA, she worked as the Business Manager for the Theater Department and the Program Director for the UMass Amherst Arts Council before retiring in 2015. One of her many designs included her family's home in Granby, where she was dedicated to the PTO, School Building Committee and received the Granby Lions' "Citizen of the Year" award. Her love of travel brought her around the world where she could often be found exploring small European villages, relaxing on the beach and soaking up the sun. These travels created some of her fondest memories with family and friends. A little known local fact is that she is also the "Sally" of the ice cream flavor "Sally's Coffee Grounds" at Flayvors of Cook Farm in Hadley! After her ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2010, she committed time and effort to uplifting others' lives in the cancer community through advocacy, fundraising and volunteering. Even with this, she did not let her diagnosis define her. Sally's love of color and textiles shined bright through her vibrant quilts, many of which received awards. A talented quilter, she stitched miniature millet-filled stars out of color fabrics known as "Sally's Stars". Over the past 9 years, 17,000+ stars have been spread globally sharing love and hope to all that hold them. In 2016, Sally was recognized as one of Mass General Cancer Center's "100 Honorees" for her volunteer and patient advocacy efforts. Above all else, she gave her whole heart to being an incredible mother, wife and friend. She is survived by her loving husband of 29 years, Tim O’Shea; one son, Conor O’Shea and one daughter Maggie O’Shea and her partner Matt Kachersky, and many dear friends. Current services will be private with a Celebration of Life forthcoming. For those wishing, donations may be made to Cancer Connection in Northampton, MA.

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Grisé Funeral Home
280 Springfield Street
Chicopee, MA 01013
413-594-4189