In Celebration of

Araceli (Sally) McElroy

March 22, 1939 -  May 12, 2022

Passed unexpectedly on Thursday, May 12, 2022 , at the age of 83. Beloved daughter of Pedro & Carolina, predeceased by her sisters Elena and Antonia (Higinio). She will be greatly missed by her beloved husband Ken of 53 years. She was a devoted mother to her daughter Yolanda and her son-in-law Fred Fuoco, and a cherished grandmother to Gianluca and Julia. A beloved Tia to Higinio (Montse), Carlos (MariaDolores) and Jordi (Consuelo).

Sally was a woman of unshakable spirit and ahead of her time. Leaving her beloved Barcelona, Spain as a young woman, she hitch-hiked across Europe exploring many countries, Austria, Germany, France, and Italy, to name a few. She continued her travels through Scotland and England, the United States and eventually arriving in Toronto.

It was in Toronto that she met her beloved husband, and a community of people who became family. Sally was a founding member of the Club Hispano, and for more than 50 years she actively participated in Caravans, Fiestas, Friday night card games and various positions on the board. Her love of her culture, was passed down to her daughter and granddaughter and she loved nothing more than taking them to dance classes and watching them perform.

Sally spent the bulk of her career working for the Royal Bank of Canada, and has maintained lasting friendships. She looked forward to her events with the “bank ladies.”

She was an extremely compassionate person and lived her life to the fullest. She had an uncanny ability to touch people in a deep and positive way. She loved her friends and continued to make new ones even though she already had so many. She loved to help people, always giving of her time to others; she was the life of the party. Sally will forever be remembered as someone with a great zest for life and a kind heart. She loved her family and friends and we all loved her back. We shall miss her and honour her in our memory every day.

Friends may call at the Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor Street. W., at Windermere, east of the Jane Subway, on Monday from 6-9 p.m., Tuesday from 2-4 & 6-9 p.m. A mass for family and close friends, will be held in the Chapel on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. at 11a.m.

For those who wish, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society.

Guestbook 

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Ann Sandy (Friend)

Entered May 14, 2022 from Toronto

Sally, you were my first supervisor at the Bank and you taught me the value of hard work and commitment to excellence. You were a dynamo. I appreciated the support (and the dinners!) you provided when I found myself unexpectedly a single parent. Thank you. I will miss our regular telephone “catch-ups” and I’m only sorry we didn’t connect in person as we’d promised now that I’m recently retired. Thank you for always being in my corner. I miss you and I love you.

Gemma Baiges (Tia abuela)

Entered May 15, 2022 from Barcelona

Sally, sempre al nostre cor!!!!
Vas dèixar empremte per allà on vas passar. Una persona amb un gran carisma, forta, lluitadora i molt especial per tots nosaltres. Tot i estar a molts kilòmetres de distància sempre vas estar molt present a les nostres vides. Et trobarem a faltar. Bon viatge!!!!! T.estimem.
Gemma, Jordi, Judit i Ariadna

Roger Baiges (Grandnephew)

Entered May 15, 2022 from Barcelona

Siento mucho la pérdida de la tía Sally.
Os quiero dar todo el cariño y ánimo posible desde Barcelona en este momento tan duro.
Un abrazo muy fuerte a toda la familia.
Araceli et trobarem a faltar! T'estimem!
Roger & Laura

Susi Feliu Baiges (Sobrina de su hermana Antonia)

Entered May 15, 2022 from España - Barcelona

Estarás siempre en el recuerdo, deso que pronto te reúnas con todos los que te querían y seguro te recibirán allá donde os hayáis ido ..

Juan Loureiro (Friend)

Entered May 15, 2022 from Mississauga, Ontario

It takes strength to be firm, and gentle, and kind,
in the storm this world has become.

It takes courage to be humble, and gentle,
And still be you on the face of humanity as a whole.
It takes bravery to love and be loved,
To be friend and feels their pains,
To not despair in front of life,
And death, and the uncertainly faith
Of the years to come.
It takes humility, and grace,
And a special kind of beauty
To be you, while become any other.
It takes a very special kind of love
To be miss without missing your words,
And presence, that special kind of gentleness
that signals the angel presence among us.
You were special, Sally, you still really are,
and it takes courage to be special,
It takes a well long live life to be you,
To be you, and be forever in our hearts,
With the kind of love that endures time,
And space,
And the heart wrenching presence of the unavoidable loss.
You will be missed,
But you really will be not.
You will be here, still here,
Still,
and still here,
forever…

Photos 

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