Obituary of Sally Starr

STARR, Sally May -  It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of our mother, grandmother and Matriarch of our family, Sally May Starr (Standing White Buffalo Woman) on January 8, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones. 

Sally was born on May 15, 1946 to Clara  and Abraham Legarde. She spent her early years living with her 3 loving aunties in Longlac before moving back to Biigtigong Nishnaabeg. There she would meet the love of her life, Norman and they would be married 48 years before he passed into the spirit world in 2012. Together they had 6 children, 21 grand children & 23 great-grandchildren. 

Sally loved playing bingo, 3-13 and listening to her favourite country music. You would often find her sitting in her chair  at the window, doing her crosswords puzzles, and enjoying her Orange Crush pop & bag of Lays chips. She had a passion for baseball, both playing for the Beavers when she was young, watching the Blue Jays on tv and you would often find her cheering in her car at her grandkid’s ball games. 

Sally was an amazing cook and was an absolute legend at bannock & dumplings for family dinners. Sally loved attending powwows in the summer and two-step/square dancing whenever she got the chance. She loved spending time at camp & blueberry picking out on the land with her family. Mama was also one of the best babysitters, spending a lot of her time with the littles who brought her joy and kept her active. 

After beating breast cancer in 2014, Mama was determined to enjoy the rest of her years and she did, with her family by her side. She loved to travel if opportunity presented itself, especially road trips and her most memorable trip was attending the canonization of St Kateri Tekakwitha in Vatican City. 

Sally is survived by her daughters Lorrinda  Norma (Jim) and Lori; sons Thomas (Mary Ann), Dale, and Gilbert; brothers Garland (Rose), Lindsay (Pauline), Raphael, Gulbert; sisters Martina (Dale), Darlene, Sheila (Dominique); brother in law David (Liz); dangways Cindy (Art), Audrey & Patricia; and many, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. 

Sally is predeceased by her husband Norman; mom Clara; dad Abraham; step-dad Antoine; sister Velda; brother Ranson; her son James “Jumpy” and countless other family members she loved dearly. 

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 starting at 3:00 pm and Thursday, January 12, 2023 from 1 pm - 9 pm with prayers/rosaries at 7 pm both nights at St Francis Xavier Church in Biigtigong (Pic River). A sacred fire will also be lit on Wednesday. Funeral services to be held on Friday, January 13 at 1:00 pm at St Francis Xavier Church. Interment at the Biigtigong cemetery followed by a potluck feast at the Turtle Lodge, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg.