Sally Ann Martin Leahy, 71, Normal, passed away Tuesday (Sept. 11, 2012) at her home with family members by her side.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday at Epiphany Catholic Church, Normal. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington, with the rosary recited at 7 p.m. Additional visitation will be an hour prior to the Mass on Saturday at the church.

Masses may be offered in Sally’s name or memorials may be made to Epiphany Catholic Church or Advocate BroMenn Hospice or Homecare.

Sally was born Aug. 2, 1941, in Des Moines, Iowa, daughter of Bernard J. and Wanda McBain Martin. She grew up in Des Moines, graduating from St. Joseph’s Academy High School in 1959. She was a registered nurse, having graduated from Mercy School of Nursing in 1962.

Sally married Michael Leahy on Dec. 28, 1963, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Des Moines, Iowa.

She worked at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines until the family moved to Bloomington-Normal. She then worked at Mennonite Hospital in the long-term and home care units. In 1980, she began working with Mennonite Hospice, having taught the first classes on hospice care at that hospital. She worked in the BroMenn/Mennonite Home Care and Hospice unit until retiring in 2006.

Sally was a member of Epiphany Catholic Church, Normal, active in the School Club and Altar Society, having served as president of each organization. She helped start Epiphany’s Children’s Church program and Natural Family Planning classes offered by the church. In recent years, she served as a Eucharistic minister.

Sally enjoyed playing bridge, cross stitching, traveling and was passionate about nursing, particularly home care and hospice. She gave her patients care and support up until she retired.

She was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt and  grandmother, and she loved spending time with her family and friends. No one was ever a stranger at Sally’s house and never left her house hungry.

She is survived by her husband, Michael; and children, Joseph (fiancee Julie Alison), Poplar Bluff, Mo.; Kristine (Michael) Morris, Bloomington; and Kathleen (Randy) Chatman and Patrick, both of Lisle; grandchildren, Anna and Daniel Morris; and Michelle, Gabrielle, Mary and Sarah Chatman; sisters, Doris (John) Wilson, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Peggy (Bob) Casper, Winterset, Iowa; brother, John Martin, Winterset, Iowa; sister-in-law, Sharon Martin, Phoenix, Ariz.; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews and good friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, James Martin; her sister, Karen Austin; and grandson, Jacob Morris.

Sally will be truly missed for her nursing skills and willingness to help others in time of need.

A special thank you to Monsignor Powell; Dr. Kindred; his nurse, Judy; and all of the Advocate BroMenn Hospice Team.