Sarah C. "Sally" Hays

CHANGE OF TIME - SATURDAY'S FUNERAL MASS WILL BE AT 12 NOON AT SAINT JUDE CHURCH

Waltham – Sarah C. "Sally" Hays, 53, of Waltham, died Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at her home after a valiant battle with stomach cancer. A lifelong resident of Waltham, Sally grew up on Linden Street and most recently resided at The Francis Cabot Lowell Mill, where she had an apartment that she loved and several close friends.

When growing up, Sally spent summers at Wingaersheek Beach, swimming, sailing and, when she got older, enjoying St. Peter's Fiesta. Winter meant skiing at Prospect Hill, sledding at Cedar Hill and hot chocolate with marshmallow. Spring and fall meant trips to Fenway with her sister Minna, sitting in the bleacher seats and hoping for a homerun ball.

Sally attended elementary school at Mount Trinity Academy and Rosary Academy and graduated high school from Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in 1979. Like most teens in Waltham at that time, Sally worked at Grover Cronin. However, her job was little different than most – she was the Easter Bunny during the spring season! Sally attended Regis College, where her cousin Toni is now president, graduating in 1983 with a French Literature major.

She was employed at Century 21, Wilson Ross & Company, Allyn & Bacon Publishers, Texas Instruments and Dragon Systems until suffering a stroke caused by arterioveinous malformation. Sally worked very hard at rehab after her stroke and, although disabled, was able to live independently for the remainder of her life.

When Sally was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, her one request of her sisters was that she not die in a hospital or at rehab but that she be allowed to die at home. Thanks to the wonderful work of the staff at Newton Health Care Center, she was able to get strong enough to leave rehab and continue her treatment at home. After her chemo stopped working, Good Shepherd Hospice and numerous care givers allowed her to actually live and enjoy the remainder of her life.

With all restrictions off, she spent the last 6 weeks of her life eating her way through her food bucket list (including lots of white chocolate, Destino cheesesteak subs, pizza, fries and bubba burgers), visiting with family and friends, watching HGTV 24/7 and exhibiting the sense of humor that she was well-known for.

Although very sad that she has passed, her family is very thankful that her last weeks were as enjoyable as they could be and glad that she did not experience any pain. They would like to thank the staff at Newton Health Care Center, many of whom visited with or called Sally while she was at home, Good Shepherd Hospice (especially Nurse Cathy) for the care and understanding that they gave Sally and the whole family, and her primary caregivers Diane, Jennifer, Joanne and Karen who, in addition to being caregivers, became friends.

Sally was predeceased by her father and mother, Walter and Ginny Hays, and her boyfriend Nick Cusumano.

She is survived by her cat Shannon, her sister Elizabeth Noonan and her husband Tom and children Juliette, Genevieve and TJ, her sister Susie, her sister Melinda Muto and her husband Don and children Patrick and Katie and stepchildren Matthew, his wife Kitty and son Joey, Stephanie, her husband Nicolai, and Timmy, her brother Woody and his wife Beverly and children Jordan and Josiah and stepdaughter Jessica, her uncles Jeff and Laurance Cronin, her aunt Phyllis McCawley and tons of Hays, McCawley and Cronin cousins.

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, June 19th from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and again at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12 noon. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

Sally specifically asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168.