Sally Sternung, age 88, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, passed away on September 14th. Her family was blessed to be by her side. She was born in Leicester, England on 10/15/37 to Fred and Ivy Stokes. Sally proudly became a naturalized citizen in 1965.

She loved volunteering with Guardian Ad Litem, Gulf Breeze Hospital, and Learn to Read. She belonged to the British Club of Pensacola and shared her love of singing, friendship and faith as a member of the Gulf Breeze United Methodist Choir.

Fitness was her passion. For decades she wouldn't miss her aerobics classes at Olive Baptist Church - even subbing for the instructor - all the way through her 81st year. She was a familiar face to neighbors on her multiple daily walks through Grand Pointe. Her passion for fitness introduced her to her most beloved gift, "The Walking Ladies" of Scenic Hills. These friends would fill the street from left to right, and their friendship filled the decades.

Sally Sternung, lovingly known as “Grammie” and “Big Sal,” will be remembered as a woman of remarkable confidence, fierce devotion, impeccable taste, and a wit as sharp as it was dry.

Grammy immigrated from England having experienced the Blitz of World War II, carrying with her the resilience and spirit of someone who learned early that life could be uncertain, but should never be lived without courage, humor, and a touch of style. She loved everything posh and approached life with a feisty spirit and an unmistakably British sense of humor. She was clever, confident, and endlessly funny, the kind of woman who could deliver a perfectly timed remark with a straight face and leave everyone else laughing long afterward.

Above all, Grammie loved her family. She gave freely of herself, doing everything she could for the people she loved, especially her grandchildren, Sally, Michael, and Spencer, and great-granddaughter, Bella. According to Grammie, the family’s beauty and intelligence came directly from her and, as usual, she considered the matter settled.

Grammie was not especially fond of physical affection, which made her rare hugs all the more meaningful. When Grammie hugged you, you knew it was real. It carried more weight than a hundred ordinary embraces because it was given deliberately and entirely from the heart.

She made memories by showing up. She attended choir performances, took her granddaughter to aerobics, attended every sporting event and even played Snakes and Ladders despite having very little affection for the game, simply because she knew how much her great-granddaughter loved playing it with her. That was Grammie’s way: she might make her opinion perfectly clear but love always won.

She also guarded her perfectly styled hair with impressive determination and refused to get it wet, leading her granddaughter to believe, for a time, that Grammie simply never washed it and that it remained naturally flawless.

Sally Sternung leaves behind a family profoundly shaped by her love, humor, strength, and generosity. Her confidence will live on in those she encouraged. Her wit will echo through the stories told about her. Her love will remain present in every choir performance attended, every reluctant game played for someone else’s happiness, and every rare but unforgettable embrace.

She was elegant. She was feisty. She was fiercely devoted to her family.

She was Grammie. And there will never be another quite like Big Sal.

Sally is survived by her sister Diana Wiggington, son Erik Sternung and wife Page, daughter Shelley and husband Scott, granddaughter Sally Aldrin, grandson Michael and fiancé Bri, grandson Spencer Sternung and wife Jac, and granddaughter Bella Stumpf. She is predeceased by her husband, Sven Sternung, and two siblings.

A celebration of Sally's life will be held at the Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church chapel at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 26, 2026.

The family extends their most heartfelt gratitude for the superb care and gentle comfort provided by caretakers at The Arbors and People's Hospice. Support of the Alzheimer's Association would be a kind memorial to her life.

Arrangements entrusted to Rose Lawn Funeral Home of Gulf Breeze. You may offer condolences, share memories and sign the guestbook at: www.roselawn-fh.com