Sally Ann Trace

Sally A. Trace, loving wife of Thomas Trace of Alpharetta, Georgia passed into eternal life with God on Sunday morning, February 26, 2023 after a long illness. She was a former resident of Bristol, New Britain, Niantic, Old Saybrook and Palm Coast, Florida. Sally was the youngest of seven children and the last remaining child of Daniel and Sadie Bailey of New Britain, Connecticut. She was predeceased by her first husband, Francis Gentile, her sisters, Jeanne Martin, Maureen Lang, Patricia Shine and brothers, Edward Bailey, Daniel Bailey Jr, and Robert Bailey all of Connecticut.

Sally leaves behind her sons, Francis Gentile and his partner Ilka Moss of Alpharetta, Georgia, Daniel Gentile and his wife Kathryn Gentile of Cumming, Georgia, step sons and spouses Lawrence and Melonie Trace of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina and Thomas and Elaine Trace of Alpharetta, Georgia and stepdaughter Brooke Trace of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She was the proud grandmother of Colleen and Emily Gentile, Mac and James Thomas (JT) Trace. She loved her grandchildren and entire extended family immensely. She also leaves behind her God Children, Kerry Martin and Nancy Lang both of Plainville, Connecticut.

Sally, or “Aunt Sal,” as she was known to her many nieces and nephews was born in 1936 and raised in New Britain, Connecticut at the family home located at 458 Main Street (no longer there) and attended Nathan Hale and New Britain High School. In addition to raising two boys, she began a career in real estate in the mid 1960s and excelled at her profession until her retirement in 1993. She had a keen eye for residential property and was a visionary in commercial development as well, ending her career with ITT Development. One of her favorite sayings she reminded us of often was, “The first person that talks, loses!”

Sally and Thomas Trace married in December of 1993 and began to travel the world visiting Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Hawaii, Italy, The Vatican, Ireland, Bermuda and many of the Islands of the Caribbean. They were supporters of Notre Dame University and made multiple trips to South Bend and away games with family and friends to cheer on the “Fighting Irish.”

A Catholic mass will be held in Sally’s honor at St. Benedict Roman Catholic Church in Johns Creek, Georgia. Burial will be at the Georgia National Military Cemetery. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations should be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Sally’s favorite charity.

The family would live to express their sincere appreciation to Beth Jenkins of Capstone Hospice and Margaret Gray of Regency Home Care of North Atlanta.