Sally Eckel

She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Sally was born on May 2, 1935 in Atlanta, Georgia. She had a busy and fulfilling work and family life. Sally worked as a social hostess for Castle Harbor Resort in Bermuda from 1956-1957 where she met her husband (Peter J. Eckel, deceased in 1994). They married on October 6, 1956 and went on to raise 6 children: Maggie, Peter (deceased in 2002), Patricia, Cindy, Philip, and Sally. Sally later met John Norton, with whom she enjoyed many loving years until John’s passing in 2017.

Sally’s life was a full and active one. She worked as a secretary for the South Plainfield school district, where she was also an active PTA member. Furthermore, she worked in customer service for UPS and Ingersoll-Rand. In retirement, Sally enjoyed many hobbies with gardening being her biggest passion. Sally served as president of the Garden Club of Toms River for several years. Her family will miss her custom floral centerpieces at holidays. She also enjoyed several activities in the Holiday Heights Senior Community including bocce ball, bowling, Bingo and the Walking Club. She was an avid traveler for many years and enjoyed cruises most of all. Sally enjoyed family parties. Nothing made her happier than to have all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren together (all of whom were raised on healthy dose of Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes and the songs Rock-A-Bye Baby and A Bushel and a Peck). She loved giving and receiving bear hugs.

Sally is survived by her 5 children, 12 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 3 step-great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday May 1, 2021 at 9:00 am at St. Maximilian Kolbe RCC, 130 St. Maximilian Lane Toms River, NJ 08757. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery 1401 Woodland Avenue, Scotch Plains, NJ. Donations in Sally’s name may be made to St. Maximilian Kolbe Church in Toms River or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.quinn-hopping.com.