Sally Ann Dreher

Madison - Sally Ann Dreher (nee Hefferan), peacefully & comfortably passed to eternal life on October 28, 2010, following complications from a stroke. She was a resident at the Ellen & Peter Johnson wing of Hospice Care Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711. Sally was born 76 years ago in Janesville, WI to Tom and Margaret (Reardon) Hefferan.

Sally graduated from St. Patrick's grade school in 1949, Janesville High in 1952, & proudly, St. Mary's School of Nursing in Madison in 1955. Sally stayed at her alma mater & enjoyed a 40+ year Geriatrics & Oncology nursing career at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison. Upon retirement 13 years ago, Sally went on to become a Unit Clerk in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at St. Mary's. Sally thanks her patients, co-workers and administrators for her long career and always insisted that, besides her passion for caring, the only reason she stayed was that they were all so good to her.

Sally was a prolific hand written note writer, not only remembering friends, family, peers, patients, acquaintances et.al. on special occasions, but was a frequent current events contributor to Voice of the People, Letter to the Editor & similar columns in local media.

Sally loved to entertain, bake, play bridge & be surrounded by her friends and family. Sally took great pleasure in sharing her baked goodies with family, friends and co-workers, & it was not uncommon for her treats to be shipped around the country.

Sally was preceded in death by her husband (and chauffer, as Sally didn't drive) of 46 years, Arthur, & her parents. Sally is survived by her son Thomas, his wife Katie (nee Tobin) & their 3 sons: Thomas, Charles & Edward & her sister Mary Hefferan of Janesville.

Sally was an active member of St. Mary's Alumni Assoc., St. Mary's Hospital Auxilary & St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers (Sally always wanted her flowers while she was alive & could enjoy them) donations may be sent to HospiceCare Inc, Edgewood Campus School, St.MarysHospital Medical Center (all in Madison) or to Mercy Home for Boys & Girls in Chicago, IL.

Sally mentored & inspired many women (and a few men), in the Medical profession. She was in it for the caring. She paid attention. She listened. She brought a lot of common sense, where a little goes a long way. She credits a lot of that to the training she received from the Catholic nuns & priests in grade school, the Sisters of St. Marys & the numerous other priests and religious in her life. Sally asked that special thanks & mention be made of the excellent care she received at St.Marys Hospital, especially her friends and co-workers in the MICU and the comforting staff at HospiceCare. You received her stamp of approval. And if you didn't know Sally, that is high praise.

Sally and her family wish to thank all those who returned Sally's love & affection with bedside care, cards, dignity, flowers, gifts, help, kindness, love, meals, memories, nursing, phone calls, prayers, respect, support, thoughts, transportation and unimaginable stories, visits and well wishes.

A visitation will be held from 3:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, November 5, 2010 at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 6, 2010 at ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 404 E. Main Street, Madison.