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R. Sally Czarnecki
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R. Sally Czarnecki Obituary
1937 - 2025
Sally Czarnecki, 88, of Santa Maria, CA, passed away on November 24, 2025. She was born in Ashley, PA on May 23, 1937 and was an only child. Sally persevered despite a challenging childhood. Her mother died when she was two years old, her father worked away from home, and her grandmother and aunt cared for her until age eight. Sally then completed her primary education at an all girl 's boarding school and attended public high school.
After high school graduation, Sally enrolled in a registered nursing program in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Upon completion, Sally worked as both an acute care and surgical nurse in New York. She stayed in New York, until she reunified with Gerald (Jerry) upon his discharge from the US Army in Germany. They married in 1962 and moved to California when Jerry took a position as a contractor with the USAF at Vandenberg. They made Santa Maria their home for over sixty years. Sally's nursing career included the Director of Nursing at the former children's hospital and the Executive Director of the Visiting Nurse Service, both in Santa Maria. She ended her career as a discharge planner at Cottage Hospital in Santa Ynez.
Sally was an active member of Altrusa International, where she devoted over fifty years to community service, including serving as chapter president, helping establish the Altrusa Foundation community grant program and attending the International Conference and Exchange Program in New Zealand. She traveled to New Zealand several times and made life long friends there. She is proud that she was able to touch her foot at the South Pole.
Sally and Jerry loved to travel to national parks and see the great outdoors. She was a gifted cook and oil painter.
Sally is survived by her husband of 63 years, Jerry, her daughter Eve (David), and granddaughters Allison, Hayley and Sarah. She is preceded in death by her son, Mark, who died as an infant.
A rosary will be held for Sally on Thursday, December 4 at 6:00 pm at Dudley Hoffman mortuary in Santa Maria. She will be buried in Santa Maria Cemetery on Friday, December 5 at 11 am.
Visit www.dudleyhoffman.com to leave a condolence for the family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memorial Events
for R. Sally Czarnecki
Funeral services provided by:
Dudley-Hoffman Mort, Crematory & Memory Gardens1003 E Stowell Rd P.O. Box 248, Santa Maria, CA 93454
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