Sally Ann Spence

Sally Ann Spence, 92, of St. Paul, MN and Santa Barbara, CA, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2025. Sally graduated from St. Luke’s, Convent of the Visitation and Saint Mary’s School of Nursing in Rochester.

In 1957, she went to Santa Barbara, California with a good friend and began working at Cottage Hospital as a nurse. Sally was a patient, compassionate, skilled and respected nurse. She retired from Cottage Hospital in 2000, without having taken a single sick day in her 43 year nursing career!

Sally loved her life in Santa Barbara, where she had many close friends. Sally was an active member of Santa Barbara Parish at the Old Mission. She also attended daily mass with the Poor Clare Colettine Nuns of Santa Barbara. Sally moved back to Minnesota in 2017 to be closer to family.

She resided at Cerenity Marian until her death, where she received the same patient, compassionate and skilled nursing care as she had provided to so many others. Sally, along with her quick wit and devotion to family, will be missed.

Sally is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas J. and Lucille Spence, and her cherished sisters Sharon Bradley and Pat Spence. She is survived by her brother Tom; sister-in-law Dory; nieces Angie and Cindi; nephew Tom; great nieces Tara and Meghan; and great nephew Carter.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held with Sally’s family in St. Paul, along with burial at Resurrection Cemetery, Mendota Heights.

On Saturday, September 6, the 4pm mass at Old Mission Santa Barbara Parish will be offered in Sally’s name. Memorials preferred to donor’s choice. O’Halloran & Murphy Funeral Home 651-698-0796