Obituary of Sally Zastrow

Sally Zastrow passed away on Monday, June 3, 2019 at Niagara Hospice in Lockport. Born in Buffalo in 1934 to Albert and Pearl Sterritt, she attended school in North Tonawanda, before graduating from Lockport High School in 1951.  Sally worked at Newfane and Buffalo State Hospitals, before starting her career at Harrison Radiator. In 1976, she was accepted into the General Motors Skilled Trades Apprenticeship as only the second female apprentice at the Lockport plant. Sally worked as a Maintenance Electrician at Harrison Radiator from 1980 until her retirement in 1997.  Community service was always central in Sally’s life. She was active in volunteer fire service for more than 50 years, first as a member of South Lockport Ladies Auxiliary, before joining Wrights Corners Ladies Auxiliary in 1979. Her tireless service and longtime involvement was recognized with life memberships in the Niagara County Ladies Auxiliary, Western New York Ladies Auxiliary, and Ladies Auxiliary of the Firemen's Association of the State of New York.

In 1990, Sally became a charter member of Lockport’s Barge Canal Optimist Club. A two-time past president and life member, she proudly wore her pink shirt at club events, from the Just Say No! and Girl Power! programs, to the Bike Safety Rodeo, 5th grade girls’ basketball games and the sno-cone trailer. Through her volunteer work, Sally learned a great deal about coordinating fundraisers, contributing this expertise to her service organizations, as well as helping those in need due to unforeseen medical expenses as a founding member and first President of Rainbow of Help.

Sally is predeceased by her husband, Chester Zastrow, and son, Jeffrey Oakes. She is survived by daughter Laurie Oakes Ferris and stepchildren Donna Zastrow King, Daniel (Jodi) Zastrow, and Dennis (Wanda) Zastrow; siblings William (Sharon) Sterritt, Robert (Jane) Sterritt, and Marsha Sterritt Johnson; grandchildren Jillian Ferris (John Jallade), Kimberly Ferris-Church (Ryan Church), Christopher Zastrow (Danielle DeLong), Melanie Zastrow (Michael Garlock), Matthew Drake, and Mark Drake; and great-granddaughter Louisa Jallade.

In honor of Sally’s commitment to community service, memorial donations may be made in her honor to: The Barge Canal Optimist Club - Member Legacy Fund, PO Box 665, Lockport, NY 14094; Wrights Corners Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary, 4043 Lake Avenue, Lockport, New York 14094; Rainbow of Help Inc., PO Box 206, Newfane, NY 14108; or Niagara Hospice, 4675 Sunset Drive, Lockport, NY 14094. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.