The world lost a beautiful soul on January 22nd, 2026.  Sally Ann Eckrich passed peacefully from this world into the next leaving behind a trail of love, joy, and care for those she encountered.

Sally was born on May 27th, 1937 to William F. Schenkel and Georgia R. (Haaga) Schenkel in Fort Wayne, IN.  She attended St. Jude Catholic School and Central Catholic High School Class of '55, then married the love of her life Thomas J. Eckrich, Sr. on Aug. 3rd, 1957.  They shared their love in raising 5 children throughout their 52 years of marriage.  Sally created a happy home while Tom worked hard supporting the family.

Sally's faith defined her throughout her entire life.  Countless Sundays were spent at the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and The Crosier House during the early years of marriage, nurturing her children with the faith she loved. After moving to Clear Lake she became a fixture at St. Paul's Clear Lake Chapel, where she was a Eucharistic minister for many years.

Service was a big part of Sally's life as well, despite having a house full of children.  She served as a hospice volunteer caring for those in their final days of life, and was a founding member of the Christ Child Society of Fort Wayne meeting the needs of young mothers and those in need.

Sally and her beloved husband Tom nurtured their relationship with their grandchildren by hosting the annual Camp Kasota - a multi-day bonding and activity-driven cousin camp led by Sally and Tom that included everything from fun Steuben County tours, to talent shows, to the family Olympic games for all the young grandchildren.  This helped the grandchildren grow in their love of Sally as they got to know her deeply.

In her later years, she was known as "Grandma Sally" by her family, and "Great Sally" by her great grandchildren.  Visiting Grandma Sally was a joyous event as she always had a good stock of Oreo cookies ready from her cookie jar, and she would share generously from her "secret" candy stash that everyone knew about.  She was active in all her children and grandchildren's lives up until her passing.

Sally was a good friend, always up for an adventure or a fun outing.  After her husband Tom died, Sally fully engaged with many nearby friends and developed new and deep friendships with her church friends and those who lived in her community.  She loved life and shared it with others.  In recent years, she was especially close to special friends: John Wilhelm, Judy Troll, Jane Kearns, and the women in her weekly mahjong group and friends at St. Paul's Chapel.  Sally was an excellent conversationalist and was rich in friends who would stop by and visit her, and check in on her, for which her family was grateful.  Despite her physical ailments, visiting friends would share that she looked so beautiful and graceful, and they couldn't even tell she was ill.

Sally is survived by daughter Ann (David) Arnold, sons Christopher (Carol Ann) Eckrich and Tony (Lora) Eckrich, and daughters-in-law Katie (Shank) Eckrich and Kathleen (Clancy) Eckrich, 18 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, as well as her brother Don (Carolyn) Schenkel.  She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Eckrich, Sr. and sons Thomas Eckrich, Jr. and William Eckrich, and grandson Michael Eckrich.  Also preceding her in death were her siblings and their spouses Art and Lois Schenkel, Jim and Jan Schenkel, and Jack and Margaret Schenkel.

Visitation will take place on Friday January 30th from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Divine Mercy Funeral Home (3500 Lake Ave., Fort Wayne, IN  46805) with the Rosary at 3:00 p.m.  The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday January 31st at St. Paul's Clear Lake Chapel (8780 E. 700 N., Fremont, IN  46737) at 11:00 a.m. with calling an hour beforehand.  After the funeral the Final Committal Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Resurrection Chapel at Catholic Cemetery (3500 Lake Ave., Fort Wayne, IN  46805).  Please dress warmly.

Preferred memorials may be made in Sally's memory at The Christ Child Society of Fort Wayne (www.christchildfw.org ), Women's Care Center (www.womenscarecenter.org ), and Lydia's Mission (www.lydiasmission.org ) which was founded by Sally's great niece Claire Brown-Kriel.

Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord

and let Perpetual Light shine upon her.

.

.