Sally Panek's Obituary
Sally Ann (Szalach) Panek, age 60, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, May 25, 2025 after a long-fought battle with Multiple Sclerosis.
Sally was born September 8, 1964, in Detroit, Michigan, to Harry and Kay (Carr) Szalach. She was the youngest of seven children and spent her time growing up Highland Dancing and swimming in the St. Clair River with her sisters. Throughout high school, she worked in her dad’s pharmacy and was active in her home parish, Good Council. She graduated from Regina High School (Harper Woods, Michigan) in 1982 and continued onto college at Michigan State University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English and a Master’s Degree in College and University Administration.
She met her beloved husband Joseph “Joe” Panek while on a “Weekend of Christian Living” retreat in 1984 and they were married October 7, 1989 and were married for 35 wonderful years. After relocating to Ohio, Sally began her career at Cleveland State University as a Career Counselor in Higher Education. She took great pride in her work and diligently worked to find co-op placements for university students, focusing on the disabled community.
In December of 1996, Sally and Joe adopted their daughter Clare Panek from Seoul, South Korea. Sally never missed a band concert or Mother-Daughter brunch and her greatest accomplishment was being the most loving and attentive mother.
Sally loved to watch Jeopardy. Anyone who called the house knew that at 7:30, she and Joe would be busy with their nightly game. She loved to watch old movies and spent hours listening to audio books. Sally loved to travel to Cape Cod and some of her favorite memories were spent with her family on Lewis Bay eating Cooke’s scallops. She was a devoted member of St. Collette Catholic Church (Brunswick) and loved attending weekly mass and socializing with her parish family. Her visits from her granddaughters Ember Joi (4) and Rosie Grace (1.5) Panek were some of her favorite times.
Sally is survived by her devoted husband, Joseph; loving daughter, Clare; granddaughters, Ember and Rosie; siblings, Mary Karen (Szalach) Caruso and Catherine (Szalach) Huhn and Stanley Szalach; as well as countless nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren and friends. She was proceeded in death by her parents, Harry and Kay, her siblings Karen Szalach, William “Bill” Szalach and Ann Marie (Szalach) Hild.
Visitations Friday 3-7pm at Jardine Funeral Home 15822 Pearl Rd. Strongsville. Funeral Mass Saturday 11am St. Colette Catholic Church 330 West 130th Brunswick. PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society or Regina High School (Warren, Michigan) in Sally’s name.
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