Cecilia "Sally" (Gauger) Fortier, age 78, passed away at home the evening of June 4, 2024, after a long and difficult battle with dementia, surrounded by her beloved family - husband Larry of 57 years, daughter Rebecca, son Bill, and devoted dog Max.

Sally was born in Minneapolis, MN to Vic and Betty Gauger. After moving to Rochester, NY for a short time, the family moved to Park Ridge, IL where Vic and Betty settled and raised their eight children. Sally was the proud number two child of seven girls and one boy. Loving sister (and family historian) to Mary (d. Mike Quinn), Susie (d. Roger Maltz), Ginny, Elizabeth, Lucile, Victor (Nancy), and Laurie. Treasured by her Fortier sisters and brothers in-law, she was the favorite aunt of over 40 nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and nephews from both the Gauger and Fortier families. Sally was a treasured friend to all who knew her, and pal to any dog she ever met.

A proud alumna of St Paul of the Cross Catholic School in Park Ridge and St Patrick's Academy (high school) formerly in Des Plaines, these were the foundations for her Catholic Faith instilled by her family and upbringing. At St Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Parish in Des Plaines, Sally was an earlymember of the parish council. Her presence was felt throughout parish ministries as song leader, liturgy reader, leader of the Peace and Justice committee encouraging Lenten and Christmas donations to sister parishes, to name a few of her many involvements.

Named for the patron saint of music, St Cecilia, music led her joy whether in musical theater, church, Irish folk music and bluegrass in the car, patriotic music, rock and roll, and anything she could dance to. Music brings light into the darkness.

One of her greatest missions was to feed the community. The Backpack Program fed school students and their families on weekends. No one should be hungry.

Sally had a mantra in life that was to play and be a kid as often and as much as possible, just like Peter Pan. "Kids" regardless of their ages, were her passion. Whether through her work and life at Maine West High School in Des Plaines for 27 years as the manager of the school's Bookstore and costume designer of theatrical productions or aiding young middle schoolers at South School in Des Plaines, she only saw a young person's potential, heart, and light. She was "Fairy Godmother" to countless young community members of Des Plaines.

Girl Scouting gave her an outlet for developing the hearts and minds of young women in the community as a leader, council trainer and board member in the earlier days of regional councils.

Her sewing and theatrical gifts as a costume designer and seamstress produced such works of art for Maine West, and in her early years, at Notre Dame High School in Niles. Matching mother/daughter outfits, prom dresses, a bunny costume and so many others for Halloween, The Warrior, the many alterations for wedding and mother of the bride dresses were cherished by friends and family.

Sally loved an adventure, a road trip, a day at the zoo or a museum, a walk in the park or at the Dunes. She loved her country and its history. She loved golf and her cherished friends who she so enjoyed playing with. She loved chocolate and cookies. She loved school and being a student. She loved the little things in life and the people in her life. She treasured her Irish heritage. She loved her family. Love thy neighbor. Make empathy great again. Once a Warrior, always a Warrior. Stop and smell the roses. Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver, the other gold.

A memorial visitation will be held Friday, June 14 from 3:00-7:00 PM at G.L. Hills Funeral Home, 745 Graceland Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois. A Catholic funeral mass will be held Saturday, June 15 at 10:30 AM at St. Stephen Catholic Church, 1280 Prospect Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois. A private burial service will be held at Town of Maine Cemetery in Park Ridge.

Funeral care provided by G.L. Hills Funeral Home and Cremation Center. For information, please call the funeral home at 847-699-9003 or visit www.glhillsfuneralhome.com .