Sarah Donovan

RICHIBUCTO, NB - Sarah Ann Donovan, 78, of Richibucto, passed away peacefully at the Miramichi Regional Hospital on Sept 15, 2021. Known to most as Sally, she was born on July 05, 1943 to Mary Thompson and Hugh Kelly. Her childhood was a happy one with many adventures with the Richibucto-point "gang" of friends and family members.  She had a varied career in education, teaching full-time and part-time in the regular school system and in the penitentiary system.  She married Anthony Donovan in 1967 and moved to Nelson-Miramichi. She lived on the Miramichi until 2019 when she returned to live full-time in the old family home in Richibucto.

She is survived by two children, Shelley Ritchie (Aaron Ritchie) of Elm Grove Wisconsin, USA and David Donovan (Ellen Donovan) of Utrecht, Netherlands, as well as four grandchildren, Alexandra and Brant Ritchie and Andy and Sean Donovan and sister-in-law, Dorothy Thompson. Sally was always fond of Elvis and found that that love was shared by Andy. During the last two years they would often talk about Elvis during their weekly telephone sessions.

Sally was predeceased by her father, Hugh Kelly in 1967; her husband, Anthony in 1989; her mother, Mary in 1998; a sister, Jean in 2005; a brother, Peter in 2000; stepfather, Newton Bryant in 1969 and a half brother, Alden Bryant in 1957.  

Sally was a kind and generous person, she always tried to see the best in people and was never happier than when helping to make others happy, whether that was helping out friends, making sure everyone at her table was well fed, giving advice "Do your best and don’t worry about the rest", and somewhat against the rules; providing small treats to her prison students.

Visitation will be held at Thompson’s Funeral Home in Richibucto Sunday from 7-9 pm and Monday from noon until departure for the funeral.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated, Monday, September 20, 2021 at 2:00 pm at the St. Louis de Gonzague Roman Catholic Church in Richibucto. Donations to a charity of your choice in the Miramichi and Richibucto areas in Sarah’s memory are appreciated.  She will be missed, but lives on in the kindness she has instilled in others, please carry her memory forward by seeing things from others perspectives while being kind and inspiring joy.

Arrangements are in the professional care of Thompson’s Funeral Home in Richibucto (523-4252).