Sarah D. Howard

Sarah Donovan Howard, known to family and friends as “Salley”, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 1 surrounded by her loving family. She was 87 years old.
Salley was raised in Longmeadow, MA by her parents Dr. Francis and Mary Donovan. She was a 1954 graduate of Classical High School and a 1958 graduate of East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education. Upon graduation she returned north and married the love of her life, John Howard, and began her teaching career. The couple lived in Wilbraham and were married for 37 years until John‘s death in 1996. Salley was exceptional at adapting to new technology and greeted her family with a “good morning” text daily. She was also proud to have maintained the same home telephone number for 65 years.
While raising her 5 children, Salley was a substitute schoolteacher in the Wilbraham Hampden school district. She served on many local committees, including the league of women voters. She was a parishioner at Saint Cecilia‘s Catholic Church for 65 years. She loved to golf and was a longtime member at the former Hampden Country Club. Her children joked that she was the only mom at the pool who didn’t hesitate to dive off the diving board. She enjoyed symphony and theater productions, and enrolled in adult education classes at Springfield College with her friends during her later years. Salley also enjoyed her bowling league and many volunteer activities, including delivering meals on wheels and work at a local Wilbraham nursing home. She was predeceased by her beloved husband John, daughter Martha and sister Mary. She leaves behind 4 children, John Howard Jr (Christine) of Tolland, CT, Christine Parker (John) of Charlotte , NC and Kiawah Island, SC, Diana Symiakakis (Nick) of Belchertown, MA, and Brian Howard of Charlotte, NC. She also leaves 9 grandchildren, a brother Fritz Donovan (Elizabeth) of Cambridge, MA and sister Liz Byrne. There will be a Memorial Mass on Monday, December 11 at 11AM at St. Cecilia’s Church in Wilbraham. Interment at Gate of Heaven cemetery will be scheduled for a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to WILBRAHAM FUNERAL HOME. Donations in Salley’s memory may be made to Demand ZERO, Box 427, Madison, CT 06433, or online at demandzero.org.