Sarah Sikes Tyrrell

Sarah (Sally) Sikes Tyrrell of Stamford, CT, who passed away on Wednesday, August 17, 2016, was born on March 4, 1928 in Mt. Kisco, NY to Emma Louise Shepherd and Allen Belknap Sikes. She spent her early years in White Plains, New York and Skaneateles, New York. She is a graduate of the Walnut Hill School in Natick, Massachusetts, Class of 1946. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Pembroke College in Brown University, Class of 1950 and a Master of Science Degree in Education from Western Connecticut State College in 1970.

Sally and her late husband, Jim, met at Brown University where she and her two brothers, Allen and Shepherd, were also graduates. They began their married life in New York City and moved to Stamford in 1954 to raise their three children, Alice Tyrrell Bazlen, James Joseph Tyrrell, Jr., and Lynn Shepherd Tyrrell.

Although not a native, Sally loved everything about Stamford and participated in many community causes including the Girls Scouts, the Belltown School PTA, the Belltown Manor Board, New Neighborhoods, Inc., Senior Services of Stamford, Inc., The Over Sixty Club Committee, and FISH (as a driver). Sally served as Deacon and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Stamford. She was awarded an Honorary Membership in The Stamford Garden Club in recognition for her “outstanding service, creativity and joyful spirit enthusiastically supporting the goals and objectives” of the club when she was no longer able to participate actively. She was especially proud of her work at the Bennett Cancer Center where she volunteered for 14 years until incapacitated by a stroke in late 2010.

In the 1960s she taught at the Roxbury Nursery School. She also worked in the offices of the First Presbyterian Church and the Bouton & Reynolds Funeral Home.

Sally loved her time on the tennis courts at the Roxbury Swim and Tennis Club where she made many lifelong friendships while watching her children, and later her grandchildren, enjoy this special recreational community.

She is survived by her three children, her grandchildren, Kristin Sarah Bazlen, Robert James Bazlen, Matthew Lynn Tyrrell, Sarah Jean Tyrrell, Caitlyn Mary Tyrrell and step granddaughter Brooke Bazlen Winkelman (husband Matthew and children Lucas and Wyatt), her son-in-law James Gary Bazlen, and daughters-in-law, Pamela Smith Tyrrell and Rachel Stobbie Tyrrell. Also surviving are 23 nieces and nephews.

Her children are grateful for the loving care she received over the past five and a half years as a resident of Brighton Gardens of Stamford and for the family and friends who brightened her days with visits and cards.

A Service of Celebration for Sally’s life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Stamford on Saturday, September 10 at 10 AM in the Sanctuary. A reception will follow. Memorial gifts may be made in her name to the First Presbyterian Church, 1101 Bedford St., Stamford, CT 06905. Arrangements were made by Leo P. Gallagher & Son, 2900 Summer St., Stamford. To leave an online condolence or memory please visit www.LeoPGallagherStamford.com