Sally B. Matchneer

Sally B. Matchneer was preceded in death by parents Dr. and Mrs. Samuel S. Berger of Cleveland and her beloved husband of forty years, William W. Matchneer, Jr., and her son “Biller,” William S. Sirak. She also survived her brother, Peter, and sister, Barbara. She was grateful for the wonderful life she lived and showed her appreciation by her generous and thoughtful contributions to people and animals throughout the world. She was always a volunteer, at Head Start, Aid to Retarded Children, Action for Children, Twig III and, for many years, at Children’s Hospital. She was a Braille transcriber of many books, some for the textbooks for blind students. In addition, she taught Braille transcribing to many. She was a member of Rocky Fork Hunt and Country Club. She is survived by her daughter, Catherine Sirak Bardsley, and Catherine’s husband, Wayne, and their two sons, Edward and Jeffrey, and her step-son William W. Matchneer III, his wife Laurie, and their son, Brian. Friends may call 5-7pm Saturday, September 8, 2012 at Schoedinger Midtown Chapel 229 East State St where a funeral service will be held at 1pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012. Interment will follow at Green Lawn Cemetery. To share memories and condolences, please visit www.schoedinger.com.

Funeral Service

Welcome and thank you for being here in memory and honor of Mom, Sally Lou Berger Sirak

Matchneer. Mom … Granny … Sally … Mrs. Match … names that evoke the range of relationships she

had with us and reflect the elements and eras of her life.

“Sally” – the girl who grew up in Cleveland. The dutiful daughter and youngest child of Sam and Vera Berger. The teenager whose high school classmates included Paul Newman with whom she refused a date because he had such a reputation as a wild man. I guess your reputation, Dad, was not as off-putting. So the young Sally, at the close of her teenage years, left Connecticut College for Women, became Sally Sirak and moved to Columbus. Although Dad was the one formally enrolled in medical school, this was also the beginning of Mom’s medical education upon which, as many of you know, she continued to draw over the years and with great authority.

“Mom” – that name, of course, heralds my arrival and then Biller’s. Mom – a role I believe, and certainly hope, afforded her great joy. That joy was, though, alloyed with the challenges in Biller’s life, which were greater in those days than they might have been today, and with the sadness of his demise.

By this time, Mom had the love and support of Bill Matchneer, with whom she had found new happiness. After Bill passed away ten years ago, she often said that she was lucky to have had forty wonderful years with him. Last Tuesday, the day Mom died, would have been their 50th wedding anniversary.

“Sally” – to her many friends, including those from her Cleveland days and early Columbus days, some of whom are here today. Many of whom, unfortunately, cannot be with us. “Sally” – to Wayne, Bill and Laurie, and other members of the family and to those who provided such loving care to her in the recent months. And of course “Granny” – to Edward and Jeffrey, whom she loved so, so much and of whom she was so very proud.

“Mom” … “Sally” … “Granny”… a very caring, thoughtful, highly intelligent and competent woman, and of course I should add, an extremely well-organized, woman. She was well-educated, although she never earned a college degree (I arrived before she finished her last quarter at Ohio State). She certainly knew her grammar and prided herself on her vocabulary and proper pronunciation. She applied her considerable energies in volunteer service to a range of community and charitable organizations.

Mom was a woman who felt strongly about certain principles and what she thought was right. It was important to her to do “the right thing.” It was even more important to her, as she continued to express through her last days, to be a “good person.” You were, Mom, you were.

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As you may know, the obituary published for Mom reflects her words. It is what she wrote several years ago. In that, she wanted us to know that she had had a “wonderful life.” For the last stage of that journey, please join us at Green Lawn cemetery where she will rest with Bill and Biller.

Thank you.

At Graveside

Mom, several years ago you sent me the following poem to read after you were gone:

After Glow

I’d like the memory of me

To be a happy one.

I’d like to leave an afterglow

Of smiles when life is done.

I’d like to leave an echo

Whispering softly down the ways,

Of happy times and laughing times

And bright and sunny days.

I’d like the tears of those who grieve,

To dry before the sun

Of happy memories that I leave

When life is done.

With our happy memories and much love, may you rest in peace.