Sarah 'Sally' Fox

Author Jenny Joseph wrote a poem 'When I'm Old I Shall Wear Purple' and it plays on the routineness of life and suggests living a little less ordinary so that when one is old nothing comes as a surprise. "But maybe I ought to practice a little now? So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised…when suddenly I am old and start to wear purple!'

When Sally Fox beat breast cancer ten years ago and her hair grew back she told her daughters she was going to do something 'bold' with her hair. And she did! Her signature style was the prominent streak of purple that complimented her beautifully styled white hair. Gifted as a lifelong artist and painter she could get away with it as she wore it with confidence and grace.

Sally died peacefully on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 in St. Elizabeth's Medical Center after a short illness. She was 88.

Sarah 'Sally' Toohey was born on February 24, 1930 in Waltham she was a daughter of the late Eugene and Charlotte (Horne) Toohey. A lifelong Waltham resident she attended Saint Charles School and later graduated from Waltham High School with the class of 1948. She graduated from The School of Practical Art in Boston.

She later studied acrylic techniques with Philip Hicken and use of oils with Roger Curtis. Her work was featured throughout New England, including showings at the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, Maine, the Parker Gallery at the Whistler House in Lowell, the Andover Memorial Library, Ingalls Memorial Library in Rindge, New Hampshire. Among her many accolades was first prize from the Massachusetts State Federation of Women's Clubs and top award recipient from the New England Artists Group.

Professionally, she was the art director at Cullinet Software Company in Westwood for many years as well as having worked over ten years as an illustrator for industries such as Raytheon, L.F.E. and Sylvania. As a free-lance commercial artist she was also partner in Fox-Doyle Art Studio. Memberships included the North Shore Arts Association and the Copley Society of Boston.

Former wife of the late William J. Fox Jr. she is also predeceased by her siblings, Donald Toohey and Mary Fetzer.

She leaves her daughters, Kathleen M. Lancto (Albert) of Manchester, New Hampshire and Jeanmarie Fox Rivera (Edio) of Waltham; her grandsons, Robert and Michael Lancto and Brayan Rivera; her niece, Kristin Toohey Pickwick (Michael) and nephew Kevin Toohey (Beth); her sisters-in-law, Mary Toohey of Hudson, Betty Russo of Waltham and Peggy Young of Bucksfield, Maine.

Family and friends will honor and remember Sally's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, July 27th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to The Blessed Sacrament Chapel of Saint Charles Borromeo Church, 51 Hall Street, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, in c/o St. Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham, MA 02451 or Sargent School at Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02115.