In Memoriam

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Sister Sally Ann Fergus, OP (William Rose)

(1937-2020)

A childhood spent on Chicago’s North Side, with a large and loving family and under the tutelage of the Adrian Dominican Sisters at Queen of Angels School, gave Sister Sally Ann Fergus the perfect early grounding in life.

Sarah Ann, as she was baptized although she was always known as Sally, was born on September 21, 1937, to Rosaleen (Stratton) and William Fergus, a Chicago tavern owner. She was the fifth of seven children, with three brothers (William, Patrick and Thomas) and three sisters (Rosemary, Eileen, and Maureen). “We often speak of our family as the first five and the second two,” she wrote in her autobiography, because there was a five-year gap between her arrival and that of Maureen, and then another two years before Patrick came into the family.

“It made a big difference in our lives,” she wrote, because the two younger children “got to do so much more than we did – like travel to Ireland with my parents.”

Sally Ann and her siblings enjoyed a wonderful childhood with plenty of playmates in the neighborhood and activities including roller-skating around the block and trips to the library, the beach, the local park and, as they got older, Riverview Park to enjoy the rides. During the World War II years, her mother not only tended a garden plot in the backyard but also had a Victory Garden in “the prairie” (the Chicago term for an empty lot).

Read more about Sister Sally Ann (pdf)

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221.

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Showing 5 Comments

Carol Lackner 4 years agoReply

Sally, that beautiful Facebook smile is no different than the one you wore in your youth, when I knew you best. Farewell, friend.
Carol (Sister Alfred Irene)

Joanne Mazza 4 years agoReply

I lived at St. Kilian's withSally and never remember her saying an unkind word! She is not much older than I am but always took me under her wing.Her kindness to me was over the top! While teaching first grade, Sally made me a beautiful bulliten board! To this day I have pictures of it.Rest in peace, Sally, until me meet in our heavenly home.

Mary Sheridan 4 years agoReply

Sister Sally was a kind, warm, and fun-loving spirit. I always enjoyed seeing her at family events. She had a wonderful sense of humor and would make me laugh often! I’m terribly sad to learn of her passing. Sister Sally was a treasure and will be missed by all who knew her. May she Rest In Peace and may her family and friends find the strength to carry you through this difficult time. 🙏🏻♥️

Sincerely,
Mary Sheridan

Yvonne L. Edwards 4 years agoReply

As a parent I remember Sr. Sally always expecting excellence from her students. She demanded respect and received it in return. As a friend I remember our telephone conversations and how her humorous side always surfaced. When she visited St. Ailbe she would visit my library class and stay for story time with my ECC class. She made the worse hot chocolate for Sunday School class. She said we used too much sugar. She did not.
Rest In Heaven Good And Faithful a Servant.

Yvonne l. Edwards 4 years agoReply

Rest In Heaven SWEET Sr.Sally. So many pleasant memories of you at St. Columbanus.One in particular when you had Sunday School for the children in the then Convent and made that awful hot chocolate for the children. You said we (Mrs.. Edwards and Mrs. Edgar) used too much sugar. LOL I enjoyed our telephone conversations while you were at St. Hillary and remember you when you visited St. Ailbe and my ECC classes. As a parent you always demained the best from your students and they ALL respected you.

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Cemetery of the Adrian Dominican Sisters

Our Adrian Dominican cemetery with its circular headstones is a beautiful place of rest for women who gave their lives in service to God — and a peaceful place for contemplation and remembrance.