Sarah "Sally" Thompson

Sarah Jane Thompson, 85, of Ocala, Florida – affectionately known as “Sally” her entire life by friends, co-workers and family – passed away in her sleep in peace on February 23rd, 2021 in Ocala Florida.

Her funeral service will be held on Friday February 26th, 2021, with visitation held 1 to 2 PM at Fred Hunter’s Funeral Home. The address is 6301 Taft Street, Hollywood FL 33024. Burial will follow the funeral at Hollywood Memorial Gardens in the Guardian Angel section at 2PM.

Sally was born in the County of Allegheny, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on September 26th, 1935 to Thomas French and Dorothy Allen French. She moved early in life to Florida with her parents and brothers & sisters. She had three children, all boys, often referring to them as “my three sons”. They are David, Kevin, and Tommy. David left us to heaven in 2018. He was his mom’s best friend and companion, always happy to do everything and anything she needed. Their relationship was more than even mother/son, having that extra spark we know as friendship. They were hang-out buddies and shopping buddies; David marveled how she was so select in comparing before she would buy the family groceries – or underwear!

Sally is survived by two sons, Kevin and Tommy. All three sons felt so fortunate to have Sally as their mother, as she was also their compass and life-long confident. She was never judgmental, never condescending, always loving, sweet, funny and uplifting, great sense of humor, humble, and purely positive – she would easily turn every negative into a positive. A beautiful smile with joyful laughter and a sparkly glint in her crystal blue eyes would warm your heart. Then you would catch her giving you that Irish wink of hers! To her children she was a mother extraordinaire. To her many friends, she was most remarkable and unforgettable. She cherished the true meaning of friends for life. Throughout life’s up and downs, she was always there for everyone, truly loved by all.

Sally worked proudly as a “professional” waitress for 40+ years at many different restaurants, most notably the world famous Pumpernick’s Restaurant on Miami Beach in the 1950’s to 1970’s. In those years Miami Beach was the top hangout spot for the stars. She served many, many of motion picture’s top actresses and actors and other celebrities. They would request her and literally wait for Sally to serve them. She would share tidbits with her sons about those she was thrilled to have met and served. The list of them goes on and on: Bing Crosby, Kate Smith (a big favorite), Larry King (great tipper), Gary Cooper, Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, Spencer Tracy, Yul Brynner, Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Charlton Heston, Judy Garland, James Cagney, Richard Burton, Errol Flynn, even Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe. There were hundreds of stars she served with a smile. She reveled in Charlie Chaplin and Alfred Hitchcock, but her very favorite guys – the ones who made her swoon – were Clark Gable, Cary Grant and Gregory Peck. Sally loved them all. She really enjoyed ensuring that the people she served were totally satisfied with their food and her service, whether these celebs were on the silver screen or she was hosting family and friends for holiday festivities – that’s truly who Sally was.

She was also simple at heart, loving to be home and spending her free time with her sons. Sally also loved keeping in touch with her many lifelong friends that through the decades also waitressed with her at various places. She is the best kind of friend you could ever want. One of her favorite sayings was, “A friend is one who knows all about you and loves you just the same”. They would meet up periodically and catch up on each other’s lives and share secrets, and cry – and laugh. A lot. Ceramics, reading detective magazines and watching old movies were also among Sally’s favorite things to do along with active involvement in her son’s lives, always there for them and for other family members when there were needs to be met.

She treasured family above all else.

Sally is survived by her two sons Kevin & Tommy; grandson Randy, his wife Samantha and great-grandson Xavier; sister Margie; brothers James and Billy; nieces and nephews and other family and friends.

Sally is preceded in death by her mother and father, Dorothy “Dot” and Thomas French; her husband Otto; son David; brother Tommy; Aunt Peggy; niece Linda; nephew Leroy; great-granddaughter Zialah “ZZ” and others.

Sally was frugal and smart – she would easily tell you ‘don’t buy me flowers! We can go out and eat together when we meet on those special days’. Sally is already so missed by everyone who knew her. So don’t buy her flowers – she would wish us to help the homeless. And the next time you’re out dining, raise your glass with a fine Irish toast at your meal … to “Sally”. J                         Top O’ The Mornin’ To Ya, Lass