Hadley, MA – Sara “Sally” Cross, beloved daughter, sister, aunt, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on September 1, 2026. She was born in Washington, D.C., on September 15, 1929, to Hilda (Forrester) and James Cross. In 1936, her family moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland, where she lived for many years. She graduated from Gaithersburg High School in 1949 and Towson State Teachers College in 1953, and later earned a master’s degree from George Washington University.
Sally devoted 30 years to teaching second grade at Highland Elementary School in Wheaton, Maryland, retiring in 1983. She cherished her students and took great pride in being an educator.
In 2002, Sally moved to Frederick, Maryland, where she became part of a close-knit group of friends. She was a communicant of St. Timothy Catholic Church in Walkersville for more than 20 years.
Sally was a longtime member and former president of the Gaithersburg Garden Club and a member of the Red Hats in Frederick. She enjoyed needlework; crossword puzzles; traveling; and lunches with friends; but she mostly cherished spending time with her family.
Sally was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Nancy Menen; and her nephew, James Menen. She is survived by her sister, Margaret Miller of Hadley, Massachusetts; nephews James Miller of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Christopher Menen of Broomall, Pennsylvania; nieces Pamela Burns of W. Barnstable, Massachusetts, and Sally Farnham of Hadley, Massachusetts; as well as two generations of great nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the amazing staff at Cooley Dickinson Hospital VNA & Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sally’s name at cooley.donordrive.com.
An In-House service will be held on September 12, 2026, at 10 am at Czelusniak Funeral Home, Northampton, Massachusetts, followed by a Christian burial at Old Hadley Cemetery.
Please go to Czelusniakfuneralhome.com for online condolences and tribute book.
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