Sally Jean Martel-Straehli

Sally Jean Martel-Straehli passed away on March 20, 2023 at her home in League City Texas. Sally was born on September 18,1965 in Houston Texas and was adopted shortly after by her loving parents Joseph and Maude (Horne) Martel.

Sally’s parents Joseph and Maude “Billie” and her sister Jennifer Manis predeceased her. Sally is survived by a brother Perry (Karen Schaffer) Ahlfinger from Tucson Arizona. She is also survived by a very close cousin Mary Rollins VanderNoot from Lebanon New Hampshire and special bio Aunt Erika and William Rochelle of Kemah Texas. Her adoring fur babies also survives her, Sampson, Luna, Minni, JJ Wats, Leo, Buddy and Rosie Marie. They have all found loving new homes.

Sally graduated from North Shore High School and became a talented hair stylist. Her love for animals took her into animal rescue and welfare. She worked for Pet Vet Baybrook Animal Hospital and volunteered for many rescue groups in the area. Along with her passion for animals she was an incredible cook, loved to garden and the beach was her happy place. Sally had the biggest heart in Texas and THAT is pretty big! She will missed by so many and we are all heart broken.

A cremation has occurred and a public celebration of Sally’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to an animal welfare or rescue society of your choice. You can also donate to Crisis Center for Domestic Violence of Galveston County in Sally’s name.

20 comments

  1. Sally you will be so very missed. We are so sorry that you life was taken. But there must be work for you to do over Rainbow Bridge. Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds and you fly. Fly high, Sally no more pain or fear, you are free! Love you

    Karen and Perry
  2. Such a sweet, kind, loving person. Heaven will put to use your fine qualities. You are missed my friend

    douglas L Dixon
  3. I will miss you very much. We never made it to the fish market in Seabrook but I will go and think of you.
    Your face stays in my thoughts, I will keep it there as long as I can.
    So many people and animals are going to miss you and all you did to make things right for them.
    ❤🐾🐾🙏

    Love you dearly.
    Carolyn

    Carolyn Ramey
  4. Fly high lovely lady will miss you forever ❤❤

    Carol carter
  5. I am so sorry Sally. Just still in shock. I posted something I cooked yesterday and sadly knew you were not here to comment. We touched on so many things that we both loved. I will always refer to the beautiful dishes you gave me as the “Sally” dishes. I will hold them close to my heart always. Sally loved and was passionate about so many things. Sally even enjoyed feeding lizards. Her videos of the lizards running out to eat always made me laugh. I never knew anyone could or would do this but Sally did! You have been on my mind constant for a week now. Love you my friend.

    Linda Berry
  6. Sally, it was a true pleasure to know you and we’re sorry we never met you in person. We are saddened by how you left us. You are greatly missed by all you have touched.

    Nancy and Harlan
  7. Sally Jean, I was six years old and visiting with my family from Laconia New Hampshire shortly before Sally was born. I suggested her name, amazingly Aunt Billie & Uncle Al took my suggestion! It was alway a celebration when the ” Texas Girls” came to New Hampshire, which they did for two weeks every summer. Lots of cookouts and celebrations. Sally was ,and will be forever in my heart, a very funny, happy, smiling little girl, enjoyed and loved by all.
    ” Love you” these are some of the last words we said to each other a few months ago on the phone.
    Love your forever Sally Jean

    Jean Monahan-Doherty
  8. Sally Jean. i was six years old when my family visited from New Hampshire shortly before Sally were born. Amazingly, Aunt Billie & Uncle Al took my suggestion and named you Sally! Every summer Uncle Al drove the whole family to NH for a 2 week vacation. What fun we had, it was always a celebration when the Texas Girls arrived! In my heart, you will always be the happy, full of joy , very funny little girl, we all loved.
    Love you forever Sally Jean.

    Jean Monahan-Doherty
  9. Sally,
    we had so many good times rolling out of high school and cruising the roads with music blaring. There is no explanations and we will never understand how this happened to an angel like you. Your magnificent being lives on in all you have touched.

    I hope you are surrounded by love and peace and are reunited with your mom, dad, and sister.

    Michelle
  10. Sally you are gone way too soon. You will be thought about in so many loving ways because of the wonderful person you were. We miss you so much.

    Mary VanderNoot and family
  11. Sally is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever known. She had such a love for animals. She helped get several dogs into our rescue and she was always donating toys and other stuff for the pups. I just spoke to her the Saturday before she passed. We laughed and joked as usual. I still can’t believe she’s gone. To her family and friends, please know how much she was loved and appreciated by those who knew her. I’m so very sorry for your loss.

    Suzanne Caillouet
  12. Sally – I was blessed to know you, to work with you and to have you as a friend. It was impossible to be grumpy when you were around. Your positive attitude and true love of animals and people was an inspiration to us all. You will be missed but never forgotten. Love you in your new position taking care of everyone in heaven. And their pets. Dr. Mark

    Harold Mark
  13. You weren’t just a friend, you were a best friend to everyone. You cared deeply about your friends and all animals. We contacted each other almost every day or every other day and when you didn’t respond, I just figured you were busy. And of course I was talking about Rescue. We’ve lost an angel but I know you’re an angel up there to all of our animals. Fly high Sally! I’ll see you on the other side. Until then my heart is heavy, and I miss you dearly! Love you, Sally!

    Bonnie Frankum
    • Sally you are so Loved and missed. Such a tragedy we’ll never understand it. Fly high Sally 🐾🐾🐾💔💔💔😭😭😭

      Valerie Stevens
  14. My family (Jean Monahan-Doherty) and my other sister Kaye (who has passed), were visiting Uncle Al and Aunt Billie from New Hampshire when you were born. We were beyond excited when we learned of you and also another girl, your sister Jennifer who has since passed (born to a different mothers). As amazing as this was, you were both adopted and had a loving home with Al and Billie.

    The entire New Hampshire family, Memere, Pepepe, your aunts and uncles and so many cousins were beyond themselves with the news. My parents Julie and Frank Monahan were your god parents, and Jean (who was just 6-named you- Sally and Al and Billie gave you the middle name Jean for her.

    Jean and I had wonderful trip in 2019 and saw you several times, each was special. It had been a long time. Thank you for traveling to connect with us.

    You will be missed by so many.

    Pegg Monahan and family
  15. I will miss you Sally. We had so much more to add to our Burroughs Family Trees. Sadly you didn’t get all the answers you wanted & needed. You had such a loving heart for everyone, cheerful, always giving. Everyone you knew, misses you deeply. Heaven got another Angel.

    Susan Burroughs
  16. Sally’s memorial will be held on June 3rd at 1 pm at the Clear Lake Recreation Center. Please wear colorful clothes in honor of her.

    Karen Schaffer
  17. I will miss you sister. I will always remember the good times shared, a dinner, crawfish boil or just sitting around drinking a few Miller Lites. Rest in peace.

    Matt Manis
  18. Rest in peace Sally. I will miss your sweet heart.

    Valerie Manis
  19. Sally was also survived by her nieces, Jamie Kay Manis and Jodie Marie Manis.

    Matt Manis

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