Sally Sommers

life story

Loving Mother, Peace Activist, Lover of Life inspired many

It’s been good to be bein’

Sally with great granddaughter Lucy

A Life of Love, Community, and Service

Sarah Ann Mary Bridget Keegan Sommers (Sally to all who knew her) was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin, the oldest of Ray and Eulalia Keegan's 5 children.

Sally graduated from Marquette University in 1954 with a degree in nursing. Later that same year, she married the love of her life, John Sommers, who had graduated from Marquette a few years earlier.

In their 45+ years together, Sally and John had 13 children and lived in Iowa, Georgia, and Illinois. They spent the majority of those years in Villa Park, Illinois, raising their family and making lasting friendships with many members of Saint Alexander’s Church.

After John passed away in 2000, Sally kept a home base in Villa Park, but she traveled around, staying with her children and grandchildren, and with her sister Rita and friend Sandi in Oregon.

In 2015, she officially moved from Illinois to Minneapolis, Minnesota to live with son Paul and his partner, Anne, and to join their Spirit Catholic Faith Community, where she loved their style of worship and social justice activism.

Throughout her life, Sally was passionate about social justice activism, giving her energy to organizations and initiatives that advocate for conservation and the environment, and the rights of immigrants, people of color, people with disabilities, the elderly, and women. She was also passionate about working towards peace through sponsoring peace studies and education initiatives. She loved being a part of communities of people who find ways to be of service to others.

Sally exuded joy and kindness to all who knew her. She was never happier than when bringing family and friends together. She was a gatherer of people from all walks of life, and she shared her energetic, positive spirit with all in her communities. She welcomed countless people from around the world into her home and at her table. Sally was an active member of the AA community for more than 35 years, during which time she sponsored many people towards their recovery.

Sally's communities extended across oceans as well. She loved traveling around the world, visiting family members and friends in many countries in Europe, and Central and Latin America.

No matter where she was, she always said, "It's just good to be BEIN'."

Sally is preceded in death by her husband John (d. 2000), her son Joseph (d. 1992), and her daughter Ann (d.1974); her grandsons William Frieburger (d. 2018) and Cody Nichols (1995); her sister Rita (d. 2022), her sister Trish Schimke (d. 2003), her father Ray (1943), her mother Eulalia (1977), and her special mom Katherine (Kanny) Herrold (2019).

She is survived by her children and their significant others: Mary and Tom; Pat and Dave; Tom and Carmel; Mike and Jean; Mark and Terrie; Jane; Dan and Beth; Paul and Anne; Jim and Marco; Peter; and Matt and Amy; 38 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; her sister Maureen Coffey, her brother Roy; and countless extended family and friends near and far.

Memorial services (one in Minneapolis, the other in the Chicagoland area) are being planned for later this summer and fall. This site will be updated when specific dates have been selected.

memorial service

Mass and Celebration of Life in Chicagoland area

November 25, 2023

St Alexander Catholic Church 300 S Cornell Ave, Villa Park, IL 60181, USA

There will be two gatherings on Saturday, November 25th, of Thanksgiving weekend:

There will be a mass at St. Alexander's Church, 300 S. Cornell Avenue, Villa Park, Illinois, 60181 from 9:15 -10:00 am.

A gathering to celebrate Sally's life will follow at the Morton Arboretum, Thorndale Education Center, 4100 IL-53, Lisle, IL 60532 from 11:00 - 3:00 pm

Schedule:

11:00 - 12:00 Doors open - Gather with family, friends, relatives.

12:00 - 1:30 A memorial program , including family remarks, photos, videos and an open mic storytelling. If you have photos of yourself with Sally, feel free to bring them to share on our displays.

1:30 - 3:00 - Gather with family, friends, relatives until celebration ends.

For those attending the celebration of life at the arboretum, please note the following:

When entering the Arboretum, tell the officials at the gate that you are there to attend the Sally Sommers Celebration, and there is no fee to enter. Park on the west side of the arboretum, not the main parking lot.

There will be a buffet of light hors d'oeuvres, snacks, sweets,and beverages. Dress is casual, and guests should feel free to come and go as they please. The Arboretum will be open to walk through until its closing time. Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the grounds of the Arboretum.

We look forward to celebrating Sally’s beautiful life with all who are able to attend.