Sally Schiavone Obituary

Sally Ballantyne Schiavone, our loving mother and inspiring role model, passed away on October 22, 2024. Born in 1929 in Lansing, Michigan, to Mildred and Allen Ballantyne, she shared a lifelong bond with her identical twin sister, Sue, and their younger brother, Dave. The family moved to Perrysburg, Ohio, where Sally attended middle and high school before earning a teaching certificate from Ohio State University and Miami University.Sally and Sue (Sommer) traveled to Sun Valley, Idaho, during winter breaks, where a serendipitous evening led Sally to meet Daniel Schiavone. Not wanting to break the twin act, she ventured out to celebrate Sue's engagement and found a partner that night with whom she would share over 50 wonderful years of marriage. The sisters celebrated a joint wedding in 1953. After a year in Southern California, where Dan attended the University of Southern California, Sally and Dan moved to Europe in 1953 to teach in Department of Defense schools. They started in France before settling in Bad Tolz, Bavaria, for over 30 years. An outdoor enthusiast, Sally loved hiking, cross-country skiing, and biking, forming lasting friendships with Norwegian women who had married German soldiers. Her passion for Bavarian folk art flourished as she collected traditional furniture and filled her home with her creations. Summer vacations were adventures in a VW van, traveling to France and Spain, where Sally embraced the journey as much as the destination. After retiring in 1986, she and Dan returned to Sun Valley, finding joy in new roles at the ski school. Sally was an active member of the Christian Science church in Ketchum. Following Dan's passing in 2010, Sally moved to Durango, Colorado, in 2018 to be closer to her sons, Joel and Dominic. There, she exemplified resilience, overcoming broken bones and maintaining an active lifestyle with daily walks, Qigong, Zumba classes, and her beloved ping pong-playing up until the day before she passed. Sally had a deep love for Norwegian culture, visiting the country over 20 times and nurturing long-standing friendships. One cherished location was a hut above the Aurlandsfjord, which she returned to many times, including a final trip in fall 2022 with Joel, Sue, and niece Sara. This journey highlighted the courage and determination shared by the twins. Right up to the end, Sally was passionate about world affairs and closely followed political news, voting the day before her passing. Sally is survived by her sons Joel and Dominic (Beth), her twin sister Sue, grandchildren Ansel, Nico, and Soph, as well as numerous nephews and nieces Dave and Paul Sommer; Steve, Charlie and Sara Ballantyne, Geoff McConnell and Deni O'Brien.. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Dave. Sally inspired everyone she met with her vibrant spirit, and she will be deeply missed and remembered for her adventurous nature, gratitude, and courage in the face of challenges.