Sara Ann "Sally" Fender

Sara Fender Obituary

Fender, Sara "Sally" Ann
Sally Fender, 79 of Tempe, passed away September 12, 2012 with her loved ones by her side. She was born September 13, 1932 in Youngstown, Ohio to Cornelius J, Boyle and Helen B. Dwyer. Her family moved to Tucson in 1942 and attended St. Peter & Paul Parochial School, Tucson High School and University of Arizona. She married her high school sweetheart, Edward Fender on September 10, 1952. Edward graduated from the U of A on a basketball scholarship. Sally was his biggest fan and an obvious lifetime U of A Wildcat. Ed was an officer in the U.S. Army and the Arizona Army National Guard. She was a homemaker and devoted mom to their four children. Sally loved family, friends and neighbors. No one was a stranger to her. Anyone could drop by her home unannounced, day or night (as she was a night owl) to get a cup of coffee and her ear. She gave her guests, entertaining conversation, political opinion, comfort and Irish humor. Sally was preceded in death by her husband Col. Edward M. Fender, who passed away July 22, 1975, her son, Dennis M., and her older brothers, Cornelius J. and Thomas E. Boyle. She will be remembered by her sister, Rachel McKnight of Chicago, her daughter, Rachel (Michael) Opinsky of Oracle, sons, James (Diane) of Mesa and Thomas of Tempe. Grandchildren, Bridget (nee Opinsky) (Stephen) Cook, Natalie Opinsky, Rebecca (nee Fender) (Daniel) Schock, Michael, Nicholas, Neil Fender and Tyler Ryan, and great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Dennis Fender and Elliott Schock. A memorial service will be held on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church at 2121 S. Rural Rd, Tempe. In Sally's honor, the Oracle Piano Society will establish an annual concert series designed to bring classical performances and educational programs to the town of Oracle, Arizona. Tax deductible donations in the form of checks may be made out to Oracle Piano Society Sally Fender Memorial Concert Series Fund C/O AZ Community Foundation 2201 E. Camelback Rd., Suite 405B Phx, AZ 85016 or on-line www.oraclepianosociety.org. Arrangements entrusted to Tempe Mortuary.

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Published by The Arizona Republic on Sep. 19, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Sara Fender

13 Entries

Sally's 75th B-day Surprise Party

September 25, 2012

Rachel (Fender) Opinsky

September 23, 2012

Love you Mom and I am going to miss you so very much. Who am I going to call daily now with exciting news, advice, need for cheer, or even to bang heads? Will never be the same. Love you dearly and thank you for building the character that I possess.
All my love,
Rachel

Rhonda Cooper

September 21, 2012

Sally, you are such a sweet person and wonderful grandmother. May you rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Stephen Cook

September 21, 2012

Sally was a funny, smart, classy, and beautiful lady. Her door was always open to family and friends and she always had a pot of coffee brewing. I will always be thankful that I knew her and already miss her dearly. Her legacy lives on with her wonderful family. I love you and miss you gmama Sally!

September 20, 2012

Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Your mother sounds like a wonderful lady. We know you loved and cherished her very much.
Big Hugs from the Lorin Brown Family

Kelly Keleman

September 20, 2012

My love and condolences to the entire Fender family...
Sally was the matriarch of a wonderful family; her family is proof of the amazing person she was. She is leaving behind a great legacy. She is loved and will be missed. Rest in peace, Sally.

Tom & Lita Fooshee

September 20, 2012

A Mother lives in our hearts forever. God Bless to all in the Fender Family.

Sally and her boys, Tom and Jim

Diane Fender

September 19, 2012

Oh Sally! You will be missed. I will always remember her needing to know people's last names and where they were from. I think this was her way of always making a connection to everyone one way or another. It was so nice to be able to call her mom. It was an honor to be able to call her mom. I truly can't believe she is gone from this place, yet at least she finally gets to be reunited with her husband after all these years.

Thank you God for taking her pain away. I will miss her dearly.

September 19, 2012

Sally was a great friend and a great neighbor to my Sister. She was and always will be a beautiful person to our family and to my mother. May she rest in peace. Thank you Sally for your love and friendship.

Neil Fender

September 19, 2012

Grandma was always there to enrich everyone's day. Bad day, she would make it good. Good day, she would make it great. Great day, she was that cherry-on-top making it an amazing day. Despite the type of day you were having, she was always there for a phone call or the infamous unannounced visit that so many of us brought upon her.
I Love you GMama,
Neil

Nick Fender

September 19, 2012

I wish words could explain grandma but, they cannot. Anyone who has met her knows how special and what an amazing women she was. She was a huge figure in my life and to everyone else in the family I know. She will live on through us in the part of herself she has certainly instilled in all of us. Although I can't make anymore unannounced visits to her house, which she always welcomed, she will always be in my thoughts and heart.

I love you Grandma and will miss you always

susan Steele

September 19, 2012

Sally was a wonderful neighbor and friend. I deeply regret not visiting her more often.

Jim Fender

September 19, 2012

Mom, you are already missed dearly by all of us. Thank you for sharing your unconditional love, strength, humor, quick wit, and intelligence with all of us. The world would be a better place if every family was fortunate enough to have a mother and friend as dynamic and loving as you. I will think of you every day and find myself still reaching for the phone to seek your comfort.

I love you,

Jim

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