She leaves behind her life-long partner and confidant of 46 years, Steven Toal, plus her four children: Heather (Chris Martin), Julie (Les Barlow), Steven Jr. (Stephanie Hunter), and Pamela (Robert Wissinger). Her love revolved around her six precious grandchildren: Kiara Wheeler, Ameera Ayaz, Jada Dunlap, Anees Ayaz, Nathaniel Wissinger, and Brooke Toal, as well as a host of nieces and nephews. To those who knew her, she was a loud, hilarious, and proud upstate New Yorker who always rooted for the Buffalo Bills, enjoyed travelling with her husband, and bragged about her grandchildren and children whenever she had the chance. Cheryl enjoyed cooking, whether for her family or her previous employers such as the Crofton Convalescent Center, local restaurants, and for the last nine years, Wegmans Foods.
Volunteer Fire Departments
Cheryl enjoyed involvement with local volunteer fire departments. Before she was a wife or mother, she served as a firefighter at the Riverdale, NY Volunteer Fire Department for several years. One of her conditions of marriage was that I would join Riverdale too, which I did, after Cheryl bought our first real home while I was in Germany. When we started our family in earnest, she stayed involved in the Riverdale Auxiliary until we moved to Maryland. For several years she held various offices of the Auxiliary for the Anne Arundel Volunteer Fire Department, Squad Seven.
Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, most recently Xi Alpha Phi Chapter
Cheryl has enjoyed a wide range of activities with her sisters in several of the Bowie City Council chapters over the years. Having served in every position at various times, she experienced great personal growth and was grateful for so many wonderful friendships. Besides the charitable work that Beta Sigma Phi chapters do, Cheryl had fond memories of game nights at her sisters’ homes, and especially her favorite, the Photo Scavenger Hunts. More recently as a Member at Large, she was looking forward to visiting with chapters across the country.
She is predeceased by her parents Allen H. and Mildred P. Ross and her brother Gary and is survived by her siblings Ronald Ross, Linda Enright, Timothy Ross, Patrick Ross, Allen Ross Jr., and Kimberly Kovacs.
Donations may be sent to Saint Jude’s Research Hospital or
the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
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