Sally Juanita Dwyer

We celebrate the life of Sally Juanita Dwyer. Sally was born on February 20, 1950 and she passed away at home with family present on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. She is preceded in death by her loving parents, Pablo and Josephine Trujillo, as well as eight of her dear siblings. She is survived by her devoted husband of 49 years, Steven Dwyer, and their four children, as well as six grandchildren. She also leaves behind her brothers Pablo (Buddy) Trujillo, Ted Trujillo and her sisters Pauline Hass and Anne Marie Rhoads. 


Born in Clayton, New Mexico, Sally was the youngest of thirteen children and she was raised on a large cattle ranch in the panhandle of Oklahoma. Although she was given the namesake Soledad, after her grandmother, she preferred Sally. In 1968, Sally graduated from Texhoma High School and started her college education at Oklahoma Panhandle State University before moving to Albuquerque where she met Steve. From there, the two were engaged, got married and relocated to the Bay Area of California. In 1979, after the birth of their first two children, Sally and Steve bought a home in Auburn, California and went on to have two more children. While her children were young, Sally ran an in-home daycare and became very involved in her parish church community, including Marriage Encounter and The Legion of Mary. Sally went on to work for American Alliance as a safety coordinator and as a bookkeeper at CBM Property Management. She also returned to school, completing multiple associates degrees at Sierra College. Though, it was her position as an instructor at a local day program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities that gave Sally a real sense of joy. That position at Placer ARC’s Adult Achievement Center as well as her role managing the St. Joseph’s Church Thrift Store were Sally’s most meaningful occupations and she poured her heart into her work. Sally would work her shift at the day program, building strong loving bonds with the clients she supported, then she’d head to the thrift store to work several more hours in a volunteer capacity. She excelled at staying busy and being helpful. In her downtime, Sally loved to read historical fiction, travel, work in her garden and try new recipes.

Sally had an adventurous spirit, an open mind and an accepting heart. Whether she was being silly or serious, she was unafraid to be herself. Those of us that call her family are so blessed to have known her love. Sally was devout in her Catholic faith, unwavering even when she suffered so much in the end of her life here with us. Her belief was that other souls would benefit from the pain and suffering she endured. She loved St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, and so his words come to mind, “the greater your sufferings, the greater God’s love for you.” And there is no doubt, Sally is loved. The loss we now feel is overwhelming, but the joy that Sally spread in her lifetime will last forever.


Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MountVernonMemorial.com for the DWYER family.