Sally Robb Zambiasi

Sally Robb Zambiasi was a passionate, strong, caring woman who loved her family and her God. She was a gentle woman who gave much of her time and energy to others, especially her family. Sally loved nothing more than spending her time being a wife, mother and grandmother to the people who brought her life extraordinary joy. The year of 1917 fell right near the end of World War I. Although the town of Clydebank, Scotland was far removed from the chaotic battlefields, the war was on everyones minds. It was into these precarious times that Robert Robb and his wife, Sarah (Dunville), welcomed the birth of their first daughter, Sally, on June 1, 1917. Sally was the first of four girls in the Robb family, but she also had an older brother, George. Sadly, two of her sisters died at a very young age. In Scotland, Sallys father worked in the shipyards, while her mother tended to the home and children. In the mid 1920s, Sally father came to the United States to look for work and eventually found a job at Ford Motor Company in Detroit. The family soon followed and settled in the suburbs of Detroit, near the State fairgrounds. Here, Sally attended the area schools and excelled in all her studies. By the time she was in Pershing High School, she earned a scholarship to Wayne State University; however, because of the economic hardships of the Great Depression, her family really needed her to work. Sally became the manager at one of United Dairys ice cream stores. It was at the ice cream shop that Sally met the love of her life, George Zambiasi. He was a student and football player at the University of Detroit, and would come in often for a milkshake. It wasnt long before George asked Sally out, and they went ice skating in Palmer Park on their first date. The two dated for a couple of years before they were wed on November 11, 1939. The newlywed settled into married life together in a home on Mansfield Street in Detroit. George supported his new bride as a Draftsman at Ford, while Sally devoted herself to being a good wife and homemaker, and before long, a mother. She and George received a wonderful Christmas present in 1940, with the arrival of their first child, a son they name George. He was joined a few years later by their second son, John, in 1943. Sally was a wonderful mother, who dedicated her time to raising her sons well. In the early 1950s, George, Sally and the boys began cleaning up a large parcel of land in Livonia, where they would have a house built in 1952. Time together as a family was always important, and they took many opportunities to have fun family picnics in Kensington Park and Brighton, and two weeks of every summer was spent vacationing in the Traverse City area. As a couple, Sally and George did most everything together. They loved to bowl, dance, socialize with friends and go to parties. They were part of a square dance group for many years and members of a fraternal group called the Foresters, where they also attended several dances. The one thing, however, the couple didnt do together was go to church. George was raised in the Catholic faith and worshiped in a Catholic church, while Sally attended Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school and volunteered for many activities. They both loved and respected each others beliefs and were happy to worship in separate churches Once her boys were teenagers, Sally went back to work as a secretary for the superintendent and several principals in the Livonia Public Schools. Up to this point, Sally really didnt need to drive, but once she was working, she had to learn to drive. By this time, George was working for Continental Motors, and in 1965, he was transferred to the Muskegon Plant. He and Sally then moved to North Muskegon, where they enjoyed the feel of a small town. It wasnt long before they were joined in Muskegon by their good friends, Turk and Barb Nehra, who were also transferred there. Sally soon joined the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, where she once again taught Sunday school. In the mid 1970s, Georges job was eliminated in Muskegon, so the couple moved to Waukegan, Illinois so George could keep working. After he retired in the 1980s, they headed back to Muskegon. Sadly, Sally lost her beloved husband, George, in 1995 after fifty-six years of marriage. Although heartbroken, she took over all the responsibilities around the house. She often called herself a tough old bird and was determined to persevere. Spending time with family meant the most to Sally. She loved being a grandma and great grandma, and filled her role superbly. The holidays were always her favorite time of the year, when the family would all gather together. Sally knitted every one of her family members a Christmas stocking, and every year she baked buckets of cookies for not only her family, but friends and neighbors too. Sally didnt much like giving money for Christmas, she enjoyed picking something special out for each of her loves ones, many of which were bought at Keefes Pharmacy near her home. Around the house, Sally enjoyed playing her full size organ in her living room, albeit very loudly. She also enjoyed reading books of all kinds, and every day she made sure to do the crossword puzzle in the newspaper. For the last 17 years, Sally has suffered with esophagus problems, which caused her to have to go to Mercy Hospital every three months for it to be opened up. Her doctor, Dr. Nakahodo, and the entire Endoscopy staff became like family to her, and always treated her well. This past summer, Sally celebrated her 90th birthday in the grandest of ways, with a birthday bash at the Michilinda Lodge surrounded by family and friends from all corners of the country. Not long after this great event, however, Sallys health began to decline, and it was discovered she had cancer. Up to now, she had been living on her own, but then moved to the Harbor Hospice Poppen House, where she could get the care she needed. It was here on Friday, September 28, 2007, that Sally died surrounded by the family she loved so dearly. Sally is survived by 2 sons: George (Shirley) Zambiasi of Plymouth, MI and John (Barb) Zambiasi of VA; 6 grandchildren: Michael, Robert, Greg, Gwen, Pam and Amber; 10 great grandchildren; 1 sister, Davida Gatzka of Custer, MI; sisters-in-law, Cecilia Wise and Mary Robb of Pontiac, MI; 1 brother-in-law, Raymond (Lois) Zambiasi of AL; many nieces and nephews; and 2 cousins, Ken Guthrie and Jeanne Brown. She was preceded in death by her husband, George, in 1995 and daughter-in-law, Jackie Zambiasi, in 1999. Funeral services for Sally will be held on Tuesday, October 2, at 11:00 a.m. at First Evangelical Lutheran Church with Rev. William Uetricht officiating. Interment at Glen Eden Memorial Park, Livonia, MI. A time of visitation is set aside for Monday, October 1, from 1-3 and 6-9 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon and 1 hour prior to the service at First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Harbor Hospice or Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. Please visit Sallys memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a thought or memory with her family or sign her online guest book.