SWAMPSCOTT — Mrs. Sally Elizabeth (Karr) Torrey, age 85, of Swampscott, died peacefully on Sunday, March 5, 2017, at her home with her family at her side. She was the wife of Robert M. Torrey, with whom she shared 62 years of marriage.
Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Orrin and Vera E. (Meyer) Karr. She was raised in Brookline and was a graduate of Brookline High School, class of 1949. She was also a graduate of Wheelock College in Boston, class of 1953. She has lived in Swampscott since 1954.
Mrs. Torrey was a third grade teacher in the Marblehead school system from 1953-1957 and from 1963-1994, teaching at the Glover and Bell Schools.
She was an active member of the Church of the Holy Name, Swampscott, where she was a member of the Altar Guild, the Marie Joy Guild, and the choir. She had also established an outreach program with Bridge House, a Lynn Shelter. She was also a member of the Hadley School PTA and of the Swampscott Historical Society.
She loved to travel to Florida in the winter and North Conway, N.H., in the summer. She had also enjoyed summers at the family camp on Long Pond in Lakeville, Mass., from her childhood until 1971. Her greatest joy came from spending time with her husband and her children and grandchildren, who were the center of her life.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her son Bruce Torrey and his wife Beth, of Winchester, two daughters; Diane Gamache and her husband Normand, of Center Conway, N.H., and Kristin Beliveau and her husband James, of Lynn, six grandchildren; Tori and Ryan Beliveau, of Lynn, Katie, Robert, and Andrew Torrey, of Winchester, and Justin Gamache, of Center Conway, N.H., two step-grandchildren; Brendan Gamache and his wife Tina, of Methuen, and Nicholas Gamache and his wife Hannah, of Fuquay Varina, N.C., and two step-great-grandchildren; Henry and Amy Gamache, of Fuquay Varina, N.C.
The family would like to especially thank First Light Home Care and Care Dimensions for their love and care during her illness.
Service information: Her funeral will be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Church of the Holy Name, Swampscott. Burial will follow in Swampscott Cemetery. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. in the SOLIMINE Funeral Home 67 Ocean St. (Rte. 1A), Lynn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of the Church of the Holy Name, 40 Hardy Road, Swampscott, MA 01907, or to Care Dimensions Hospice 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. Directions and guestbook at Solimine.com.