Sally Pamela (Holmes) Esposito

Sally Pamela Holmes Esposito was born Dec. 14,1945 in Portland, Me. She died on the fourteenth of June at the Barron Center. Her parents where Carl Ivar Holmes and Weltha Kirkwood Holmes. When she was still a toddler the family moved to Houlton because her father, a customs agent, was assigned there. She often mentioned the one room schoolhouse where she began her education. By the time she was in junior high they moved to Falmouth. She graduated from Falmouth High and attended Dean Jr. college to study art. She kept her love of creative artistry all her life.

For many years Sally worked at various banks in Portland. When she left banking she went to work at LL Bean’s. Fifteen years later she retired.

 Her favorite form of recreation was shopping, mostly at thrift stores. There she would find ”treasures” which she revitalized with great vigor. She really enjoyed polishing absolutely any kind of metal. For several years she volunteered to polish brass at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. When she returned it to glowing beauty she was thrilled. 

She loved Christmas. Her home was always richly decorated. Her shopping skills were on full display in packages that were presented with the most beautiful bows. She enhanced picture frames, end tables, bird carvings and people’s lives.

Her family heritage was quite a contrast. Her mother’s people had a long history in Maine. Her mother always told everyone that she was “born on Mount Kineo”.  Sally’s great grandfather was a Registered Maine Guide. There are wonderful photos of him touring with clients. From that family Sally learned to love the Moosehead region. She and her husband often went north to the family property in Rockwood. They would visit cousins and fish on the lake. There was another rural property. Sally’s maternal grandmother had a farm in Leeds. That was a place where both her mother’s and her father’s family gathered for hunting season.

Sally’s father’s people came from Norway. Both his parents were born there. Scandinavian traditions have been carefully preserved through five generations in America. Because Norwegians celebrate and exchange gifts on Christmas Eve the extended family gathered at her grandparent’s home on that night. These were special times. Grandfather Holmes was a minister, so St. Luke’s description of Jesus birth was always read.  Many carols were sung through with all the verses. Dinner was served and finally the gifts were opened. Sally has many first cousins. Those celebrations were big events Even now, once a year, many family members gather, with all the children willing to come, to bake Norwegian cookies for Christmas. The fifth generation is learning an important skill along with the comfort of having an extended family.

Joe and Sally were married for more than 40 years happily living in their home in Portland. Together they created gardens. Joe did veggies and Sally did flowers. Joe did much of the cooking. Sally kept it clean and pretty. They led a good life. When her memory began to fade Joe tried in many ways to help her. She often just said it “Joe takes such good care of me.”

Sally was a warm, thoughtful, joyful person. Many years ago, she entered a few beauty pageants. One of them produced a trophy for Miss Congeniality. She was proud of that and tried to keep those attributes all her life. Joe wishes to thank all the people at the Barron Center for the kind and attentive service Sally received in their care.

  Sally is survived by her husband Joseph, her sister-in-law Penny Esposito and many other members of the Joe’s family along with all her aforementioned cousins.

Visiting Hours will be held on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at A.T. Hutchins Funeral Home, 660 Brighton Avenue, in Portland.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sally Pamela (Holmes) Esposito, please visit our floral store.