Sally V. (Haapala) Ross

ASHBY: Sally V. (Haapala) Ross, 93, of Ashby, MA, was called home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, November 26, 2023 at The Highlands, Fitchburg, MA. Sally was born July 18, 1930, the youngest of fifteen children born to Manuel and Hilma (Toivonen) Haapala and was a lifelong Ashby resident. Her husband of fifty-nine years, Leo R. Ross, died in March 2010. Throughout her career, Sally held several and varied positions including administrative assistant at General Electric and the office of Dr. Richard LaVigne both in Fitchburg, and she also worked as a Home Health Aide. Following her retirement, she and her husband enjoyed traveling and spending their winters in Florida and summers at Camp Pineshore in Westminster, MA. Sally was a lifelong active member of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Fitchburg where she was a church secretary, a member of the church choir and participated in many church groups. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, oil painting, square dancing, golfing, playing her violin and entertaining. The most important thing to her was spending time with all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She leaves five children, Linda Sallila of Fitchburg, MA, Donna Ross and wife Joan James of Leesburg, FL, Leo Ross and wife Kathy of New Ipswich, NH, Brenda Whitcraft and husband George of Townsend, MA, Robert Ross and wife Linda of Gardner, MA. She also leaves her sister Thelma Sippola of Minnesota. She leaves fifteen grandchildren, Hannu, James and wife Grace, Jonathan and wife Kathleen, and Matthew and wife Abigail Sallila, Kristen, Jason and Nickolas Ross, Jennifer and husband Dean Thomas, Jeffrey and wife Amy Herrick, Justina and husband Samuel Forsaith, Jacob, Jared and Jessica Whitcraft, David and Adam Ross. She also leaves sixteen great grandchildren, Zachary Schweda, Hunter, Braden, Abigail, Annika, Evan, Brooke and William Sallila, Lillian Ross, Samantha and Madison Thomas, Caleb and Emma Herrick, Victoria Forsaith, Lyla and Jacob Whitcraft. Sally also leaves many beloved nephews and nieces. Sally’s family will receive relatives and friends at calling hours from 2-5 PM Sunday, December 3, 2023 at the Anderson Funeral Home, 250 Main Street (Rte. 119) Townsend Center. Her funeral service will be held 11 AM Monday, December 4, 2023 at Messiah Lutheran Church, 750 Rindge Road, Fitchburg. Interment will follow at Glenwood Cemetery, Ashby MA 01431. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Messiah Lutheran Memorial Fund, 750 Rindge Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420.

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Sally V. (Haapala) Ross

July 18, 1930 - November 26, 2023