Sarah M. Gilronan | Homemaker, 80

Sarah M. "Sally" Gilronan, 80, the matriarch of a large family who loved crocheting, reading, baking Irish scones, and eating clams and oysters, died of respiratory arrest Tuesday at Riddle Memorial Hospital in Middletown Township.

Mrs. Gilronan, who lived in East Lansdowne for 50 years, grew up in West Philadelphia and attended West Catholic High School for Girls and the Columbia Institute Business School.

She did secretarial work and worked for Bell Telephone, but once she began to have children, she became a full-time homemaker.

Mrs. Gilronan raised 10 children with her husband of 58 years, James, a crane operator.

Her daughter Mary Brock remembered her as someone who loved life.

"She was so much fun," Brock said. "She'd say out of the blue, 'I'm craving oysters. Anyone want to go to the clam bar?' "

In addition to her daughter and husband, Mrs. Gilronan is survived by sons James, Patrick, Daniel and William; daughters Sally Anne Ziegenfuss, Kathleen McLaughlin, Rosemarie Mattia and Susan; a sister; 23 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Her son Thomas died in 1973.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. tomorrow at St. Cyril of Alexandria Church, 153 Penn Blvd., East Lansdowne, where friends may call from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.

Memorial donations may be made to the St. Cyril Memorial Fund, 153 Penn Blvd., East Lansdowne, Pa. 19050.