Sarah Anne "Sally" Naser

Sarah Anne Naser

“Sally”

April 20, 2000 – February 16, 2024

On February 16th  2024, our sweet Sally’s soul slipped the bonds of this mortal world, ascended into the divine world to soar with the angels and ariels in peace everlasting.  Amen.  While her body was broken, her spirit never was.  Sally was a beacon of inspiration, hope and courage for so many. She was a humble, kind and selfless person, always concerned about the needs of other’s above her own.  Sally cared deeply about the world we live in and every creature on it, both large and small.  Her path to heaven is paved with the hearts of all that knew and loved her. Godspeed Sally, we will forever hold you dear in our hearts until the day when we can embrace you in our arms once again!

Sally was an excellent student, not because she was gifted with genius but rather because she was gifted with something more valuable – determination.  After graduating Ursuline Academy in Dedham as a National Honor Society member, Sally pursued her college degree in biochemistry at both the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Arizona State University.  She excelled in her studies even under extreme duress of exhausting cancer treatments and recovery from heroic surgeries.  Even in the last months of her life she dedicated herself to her studies, earning a rank of third in a bio-chemistry class of one-hundred students.

Sally dreamed of traveling the globe.  She had a 3D wooden map of the world on her bedroom wall and often talked about the places she would like to visit beyond the places she had been, which included Greece and England. She also loved to travel domestically and made trips to visit her brother in New York City, aunts in Alabama, cousins in Florida as well as the Watervale Inn resort in Arcadia, Michigan. 

The Watervale Inn was perhaps Sally’s place of greatest happiness, where she had spent summers since her childhood both as a guest and as a staff member.  This rustic resort, a former logging camp nestled on the northern shores of Lake Michigan, was a reprieve from the drudgery of her daily life back home, a haven where she could escape into a world of carefree days, dreamy sunsets, endless dunes and a place where family and friends are one in the same. This was her tiny sliver of heaven on earth.

Sally was a gifted artist and crafter where her perfectionist traits compelled her to produce beautifully embroidered tee shirts, delicate blown-glass bead jewelry and, most recently, intricate hand knit sweaters, scarves and hats. 

Taylor Swift was one of her favorite musical artists and Sally attended both of Taylor’s famously memorable rain-drenched concerts at Gillette Stadium in 2011 and 2023. Nothing could keep Taylor, or Sally, away.

Sally also loved helping to plan family holiday celebrations.  At Christmas, she would scour the internet for that just-right gift (and discount code) and she always had the final say on the tree selection for the living room.  She always helped plan the menus for Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter and made a considerable effort to select the board or cards games that we played for hours as we lingered at the dining room table after meals.  While she loved to plan these events, it was the company of her family, cousins and aunts and uncles that she loved most about holidays.

Sally loved and was loved her parents: Robert & Camille Naser, her “awesome” brothers (her words): Evan Naser and Oliver Naser, aunts and uncles: Joseph Spaitis,  Nathan Spaitis, Elizabeth Naser, Carole-Terese Naser, Anne Naser, William Naser, great uncle: Edwin Naser and many cousins, classmates, friends and, of course, her faithful canine companions Zippy and Pepper.

The family is eternally gratefully to the world-class medical team that cared for Sally over the years with such kindness and compassion.  Through their noble efforts, Sally was able to live the most fulfilling life possible. 

Visitation hours will be on Friday, February 23, 2024 from 4pm -7pm at the Eaton Funeral Home, 1351 Highland Avenue, Needham, Massachusetts.   A funeral service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 10am, St. Joseph Parish, 1360 Highland Avenue, Needham, Massachusetts with interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 1 Wellesley Avenue, Needham, Massachusetts directly following the service.

The bereavement luncheon will follow the interment at the Chateau restaurant, 404 Boston-Providence Highway, Norwood, Massachusetts.  All are welcome.

Remembrances, tributes and more information can be found at www.eatonfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sally Naser Charitable Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization established by the family to fund pediatric cancer research initiatives.  Checks can be mailed to the Sally Naser Charitable Foundation, c/o Robert Naser, 339 Washington Street, Suite 203, Dedham, Massachusetts 02026. 

In addition, a GoFundMe page for online donations can be found at https://gofund.me/49a2a443