Sally Ann Edington

Sally Ann Shanahan Edington, 69, passed away peacefully on September 18 with her husband by her side following a brief cancer diagnosis. She was born on August 24, 1956 to Paul V and Kitty (Fitzgerald) Shanahan in Indianapolis. She grew up in Beech Grove, IN and attended Holy Name School and Our Lady of Grace Academy, class of 1974. She graduated from Ball State University in 1978 with a Bachelors of Social Work. While at Ball State, she met her future husband, Ned Edington, and they married on September 16, 1978. They built their life together in Fort Wayne. Sally spent her professional career working as a perinatal social worker helping low-income, high-risk pregnant women through their pregnancies and the first year of their babies’ lives. She worked at the Three Rivers Clinic and Fort Wayne Women’s Bureau. In 1997, she helped start Healthier Moms and Babies and served as the first director until her retirement in 2015.

During her 43 years of residing in Fort Wayne, Sally was an active parishioner of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and was instrumental in the Fairmont Neighborhood Association. She volunteered with Big Brother Big Sister and was named Big Sister of the Year in 2016. Upon moving to Indianapolis in 2021, she became an active parishioner at St. Pius X, singing in their women’s and funeral choir. An avid quilter and reader, she was involved in several quilt clubs and book clubs.

Sally never met a stranger and was a friend to many. She loved making connections with others and telling stories. When she moved back to Indianapolis in 2021, she quickly made friends through quilting, St. Pius, her neighborhood, and the Fort Ben YMCA; a testament of her out-going personality and interest in others. She was forever the big sister, always helping those who needed care or encouragement. She was a lifelong learner, whether navigating new technologies, learning the rules of lacrosse to better cheer on her grandson, or making her own kombucha. And she was always eager to teach others her new skills. She was the biggest supporter of her kids, cheering them on the soccer sidelines, providing feedback on high school newspaper articles, or just pushing them to try their best. As Grandmommy, she rarely missed a game, cross country meet, or recital, and made each grandchild feel special with their own book club. Her infectious laugh, cooking, book reviews, and joy will be missed.

She is survived by her husband, Ned; her children, Ben (Alina Velasquez) Edington and Libby (Bryant) Eismeier; her five grandchildren, Silvia and Simone Edington, and Ellie, Jack, and Phoebe Eismeier; her siblings, Kathy (Mark) Weisenbach, Terry (Mark) Schonhoff, Maureen (Jim) Okerson, and John (Laura) Shanahan; as well as her brothers in law, Jack (Vickie), Tom (Michelle), and Max (Joann) Edington; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Kitty Shanahan, and her two infant brothers, Michael and Joseph.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 26 at St. Pius X Catholic Church at 10am. Visitation will be Thursday, September 25 from 4pm to 8pm at Feeney-Hornak Keystone Mortuary. Private interment will occur at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Healthier Moms and Babies, 1025 West Rudisill Blvd., Box #9, Fort Wayne, IN 46807 (https://www.healthiermomsandbabies.org/donate) or Westminster Neighborhood Services https://www.westmin.org/.

The family would like to thank the staff at Community MD Anderson and Community Hospice for the care and kindness provided during her short illness.