Sara Hodges of Marblehead passed away on September 18 ^th at the age of 88.

Born Sara Percival in Boston, she split her time growing up, spending summers on the neck in Marblehead while all her schooling years were spent in Wellesley at boarding school.

She was known only as "Sally' by all in the first two acts of her life. As a girl and young adult, her high-spirited energy and her wacky sense of humor left quite the mark with all she interacted with. And everyone who ever knew her made mention of her blue eyes.

Sally was an absolute minimalist and cared nothing about the trappings or expectations in how she was raised. She cared about living her life as she saw fit which included surrounding herself with fun, loving and magnetic personalities.

She married twice. Her first marriage was to Dana Mace Sr of Marblehead and they brought two children into the world: Dana Jr and Diane.

Her second marriage was to Jack Hodges of Marblehead. Children Scott and Craig soon followed. Along came Bill from Jack's first marriage and Sally was soon running an often-combustible, merged family household.

Her occupation starting at age 21 and forever after was this: Mother. Her methods and practices were unrehearsed, unconventional and will never appear in a parenting textbook but she loved and protected her children fiercely.

Sally had a remarkable final act. She took back her birthname and would introduce herself only as Sara starting in middle-age. She discovered she cared deeply for the wellbeing of the elderly and took on a career as a home health aide with Marblehead Visiting Nurse.  Lastly, she spent hundreds of evenings ballroom dancing over the course of three decades all over the Northshore. She so loved her dancing.

She leaves behind her brother David Percival and his wife Bonnie of Tenants Harbor, Maine, children Dana and wife Julie, Diane, Scott and wife Ingrid, Craig and wife Carolyn, grandchildren Brandi, John, Dylan, Haley, Susie and Sam and a great granddaughter Noelle.

Sally, Sara, Sal, Sash, Grammy, Grammy Dada, Mom- we all loved you so much and you be very dearly missed.

Visiting hours and services will be held at Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal Street, Salem on Friday September 23 ^rd between 9 and 11 am with the service starting at 11 am, followed by interment at Waterside Cemetery, Marblehead.  For additional information or on line guest book, please call 978-744-0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com .