Saralee Hovanec

Sally Hovanec died at home on April 19, 2025, with her loving family at her side. In recent months, she suffered significantly with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). She died as she had lived for her entire life. Even in her last hours, grace and dignity and appreciation were Sally's hallmarks. "I'm a lucky girl," she said before passing peacefully.
Saralee (Sally) Westerlund Hartley Hovanec was born on May 8, 1941, in Virginia, MN. Her parents, Ingval (Inky) and MaryJane Westerlund also had a son, Paul (Budge) Westerlund. Budge died in 2022.
In the early years the family lived on the Iron Range. They later moved to Duluth where, in 1959, Saralee graduated from Duluth East High School. She went on to study at Northwestern University in Chicago.In addition to her husband, John, Saralee leaves four children. Eric Hartley and Graham (Gray) Hartley, Sara Lee Hartley Reed married to Daniel Reed) Reed married to Daniel Reed) and Jocelyn (Sukoshi) Hovanec. Grandchildren include Eric's children: Silas and Sada Hartley. Graham's children: Dylan and Wyatt Hartley. Sara Lee and Daniel Reed's children: Sally and Mack Reed. Jocelyn's children: Duff and Lucy Mae Watson.
In recent years, Saralee's attentions have been mostly captured by the rich lives of her growing family. But she and John have lived rich lives of their own. Early in their marriage, they and the younger children spent four years in Tokyo. (Jocelyn was born there.) Saralee immersed herself in Japanese art and culture. She learned well. The Hovanec home and the homes of countless friends and family members are chock-full of amazing Japanese art and artifacts, testimony to Saralee's insatiable interest and good taste.
Before marriage to John and later while the children were growing up, she honed her abundant skills and talents in a variety of professional settings. She wrote and produced television commercials for KDAL-TV/ Duluth. She created advertising for Twin City Wholesale Drug, Juster's and Titus MacDuff Menswear and Dayton's FYI, a private client shopping service. Saralee loved all things artistic. She was happy onstage at the Duluth Playhouse and, in Tokyo, committed herself to creating theater for the English-speaking community. The Tokyo Players and Tokyo Theatre for Children both benefitted from her dedication and hard work.
She made art with her own two hands. Paintings, collages, embroidered pillows and blankets –– over 200 distinctive embroidered and appliquéd blankets to keep their owners warm on the coldest nights. Saralee called her blankets "Recovery Blankets." She made them for people who were hurting from broken hearts and broken bodies. She also made blankets for those who were celebrating marriages and new births. The wedding blankets always came in pairs. One for each partner because you never know when you need to be alone! Wrapped in such warmth how could their owners not be joyful?
Her daughter, Sukoshi, says, "My mom impacted the lives of everyone around her. She radiated beauty, grace, intelligence and love. She had a unique ability to make even simple things magnificent. She possessed an artistic spirit and an ability to both appreciate and create art of different types."
Son Graham remembers Saralee's kitchen. He fondly recalls the pots and pans that held his mother's culinary creations as well as the beauty of her table settings. And, of course, the food. "Mom's recipes were never written down. Her kitchen contained everything she needed to put together hot dishes and other creative culinary comfort concoctions. She prepared and hosted hundreds of meals for delighted guests. "The Kitchen of Saralee" will be long remembered."
Daughter, Sara Lee Reed, her mother's namesake, says that Saralee is ever- present in her mind's eye. "She is the face I see when I close my eyes. She is who I am. I am who I am because of her. She is my heart and I am her baby girl. She is my momma. Her eyes, so blue, twinkly, her smile so stunning. She was wise, admired and adored".
Saralee's life and legacy will be celebrated on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at St. Edward the Confessor Episcopal Church in Wayzata. The service will begin at 2 p.m., followed by a festive summer ice cream social in the church hall. The family will welcome memorials to: ALS Association (als.org), My Very Own Bed (myveryownbed.org), or your favorite charity.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Saralee (Sally) Hovanec, please visit our floral store.