Sara Frances (“Sally”) Pennigar Twine passed away Thursday, October 27, 2016, from complications of kidney failure at Mid Coast Senior Health Center in Brunswick, Me. She was 71.

She leaves behind her beloved husband of 50 years, Kevin P. Twine, of Brunswick, Me., and three loving children: Brandon Twine of Denver, Colo.; Charlotte Twine Caria of Tavernier, Fla.; and Quentin Twine of Kearny, N.J.

Sally was born in Charlotte, N.C., the daughter of Frances H. and Howard E. Pennigar. Her father was a prominent businessman known for his support of the less-fortunate citizens of Charlotte. She had one sibling, her younger sister, Martha Ann Pennigar, who died in 2003, at age 53.

She had a passion for music that developed during her childhood and flourished for the rest of her life. She trained in piano from an early age and performed in recitals for Charlotte audiences. Her repertoire was extensive and included composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert, Schumann, Scriabin, and Shostakovich. She loved to share her talent and her love of music with the people in her life. She played piano accompaniment for congregants in Sunday school at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C., and for her high school glee club.

Sally trained in dance. When she was 3 years old, Sally and her cousin Doris Ann Hoover performed a tap dance routine for radio broadcast — a platform was made for the cousins to capture the sound of the taps. Sally also performed dance recitals in modern composition and was featured on local TV shows.

She attended Charlotte public schools, graduating from Myers Park High School in 1963. Every activity she took part in she excelled at, and she was named to the National Honor Society. She was editor in-chief of her high school yearbook, which achieved national recognition.

She was the first person in her family to attend college, starting at Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Ga. She transferred to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Shortly thereafter, in June 1965, she met the love of her life, Kevin, at a campus swimming pool. The romance blossomed quickly: the couple married in November 1965 and had their first child, Brandon, 10 months later.

Over the years, the family lived in diverse locations including Memphis, Tenn.; Portland, Me.; Orlando, Fla.; and Northern New Jersey, where they spent 35 years, mostly in Maplewood and South Orange. Sally was a very spiritual woman who often had a bible nearby and was very active with her community at Morrow Methodist Church in Maplewood. Education remained important for her, and she attended several colleges, including Columbia University in New York City.

The couple retired to Brunswick, Me., in 2010, where they were very involved in the community. They made deep and lasting friendships from the moment they arrived. Sally and Kevin joined First Parish Church, where they were active and cherished. Around town, she was well known for her Southern accent and wry sense of humor. Everybody who met her loved her, in the many stops of her life’s journey.

She loved touring the Maine coast with Kevin. They had dreamed of having amazing adventures in their retirement years and were able to experience these not only in Maine, but also in Vermont, New Hampshire, Boston, and Italy.

Sally had many passions in her life, first and foremost of which was cooking for her family. She had wide-ranging recipes for all occasions. In particular, her chocolate cake was beyond compare, as was her Southern fried chicken. Nothing gave her greater joy than to see smiles on the faces of her family after one of her delicious meals.

Sally also loved animals and needlework, and always enjoyed sharing a good laugh: she could never watch the movie “Airplane!” enough. She was known for her striking red auburn hair, her smart fashion style, her giddy sense of humor, and her beaming smile.

Sally experienced a number of health challenges throughout her life. None of these diminished her spirit or her joy. Her strength, courage, optimism, and grace were a tremendous inspiration for her family and friends. Her greatest gifts to the people in her life were her unconditional love, acceptance, and kindness.

Sally continues to live on in the hearts and spirits of her husband and children.

The family would like to thank the staff at St. Mary’s Hospital and D’youville Pavilion in Lewiston, and Mid Coast Senior Health Center and CHANS in Brunswick for the devoted medical care and support she received.

A memorial service and reception will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 5, at First Parish United Church of Christ, 217 Maine Street, Brunswick. Sally loved flowers and would be very happy with lots of them at her service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Kidney Fund. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.