Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend

Sally Brewer Wishart, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and longtime Claremont resident, died peacefully on December 19 after a period of declining health.

She was born in Rochester, New York to William and Doris Brewer. Nancy (Sanger) was her much loved older sister. She met the love of her life, David Wishart, at the Rochester Third Presbyterian chapter of Young Adult Fellowship and they were married on leap day in 1964. “This year they would have celebrated their 60^th anniversary; an amazing tribute to their love and commitment to each other,” her family shared.

Sally and Dave spent their Rochester years child free, enjoying frequent camping, rafting, and skiing trips with friends and family. They were very close with both sides of their family and spent lots of very happy times with their nieces and nephews. They also established an extended network with their Eastman Kodak friends who became like family to them.

They had two children, Debby and Laura. In 1978, they moved their young family to Claremont, where they were able to establish deep community roots and friendships. They were lucky enough to settle in a neighborhood filled with other young families and form lifelong friendships that still continue to this day. Progressive dinners in the neighborhood, children moving from house to house for all day play dates, adult trips to Las Vegas, numerous pool parties, etc.,  brought her many years of happiness.

She was always involved in the lives and activities of her daughters. She was a committed parent-teacher organization member, school volunteer and chaperone, team mom, and supporter. Her home was open to all of her daughters’ friends, and she was always ready to set an extra place at the table.

As her children grew up, she kept herself busy working for a local accountant, making quilts for the local Quilts of Valor guild, holding leadership positions with the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and volunteering for local organizations (Ontario Elks, Casa Colina Auxiliary, Active Claremont, Friends of the Claremont Library, and many other philanthropic organizations). An avid reader, who loved quilting, sewing, knitting, scrapbooking, and baking, she was always giving and there to lend a hand to anyone in need.

She was very involved with the Claremont United Methodist Church, where she and her husband were longtime members of an active fellowship group that brought both spiritual comfort and wonderful friendships.

The couple maintained deep roots in the Rochester, New York area and spent their summers on Conesus Lake, where her family had a cottage. “Many of our family’s best times were spent with four generations in a 900-square-foot cottage on the most humid of days, playing group solitaire,” her family said. “She loved her family deeply and becoming a grandmother brought her an even deeper level of joy. She loved quality time with her grandsons, and always had a seasonal craft or activity to do with them. The boys will forever remember family vacations and holiday celebrations as times well spent with their grandparents and also when their grandma ensured just a bit extra so that they felt spoiled and loved. She handcrafted scrapbooks and quilts for each of them that they will forever cherish.”

She was predeceased by both of her parents and her sister.

“She is survived by her loving husband David, her two daughters, Debby and Laura, who miss her dearly, her son in law, Lee, who thought of her as his second mom, and her three grandsons, Garrett, Bryce, and Tyler, who were lucky to be encompassed by her love,” her family said.

“Our dearest Sally was born to be a wife, mom and grandmother and she showed us all every day how important we were to her,” added her family. “Even as sickness took her mobility and her voice, it never took the sparkle from her eyes or the brilliance of her smile while she enjoyed time laughing with her loved ones. Sally loved her family with her whole heart every single day and she, in return, was loved by all who knew her.

“We would like to extend our gratitude to all who have reached out to the family to extend their condolences or share memories of mom’s life. Knowing you mourn with us has brought us comfort during this sad time.”

Services to celebrate her life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 24 at Claremont United Methodist Church, 211 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont, CA 91711.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to CurePSP at psp.org; Claremont United Methodist Church at claremontumc.org; or Quilts of Valor at qovf.org.