Alison Sweeney's DAYS departure, goodbye from on-screen mom

The end of Alison Sweeney's 21-year run on Days of our Lives has been an emotional time for both Sweeney and on-screen mother, Deidre Hall.

Deidre Hall and Alison Sweeney have played mother and daughter on DAYS for over twenty years. Hall debuted on the soap as Marlena Evans in 1976, and Sweeney took over the role of Marlena's daughter, the troubled and devious but ultimately sympathetic Sami Brady, in January of 1993.

Sami's seen and been the cause of a lot of drama in her years in Salem -- kidnappings, espionage, near executions, multiple weddings and almost weddings -- but the end of May 2014 brought Sweeney's final day of filming on DAYS. Hall shared an emotional goodbye message on her Facebook page, expressing her feelings on the departure as well as her admiration and good wishes for Sweeney.

Dearest Ali. I don't know how we will get through today, much less all the Days to follow. For years I have stood arms-length from you, finding our light, watching the greatest show of all. It has been your breathtaking journey to womanhood. I am unspeakably proud. My love and respect for you go beyond words. You are the daughter I never had.I always knew you would walk, I never dreamed you would fly.Clear skies, little one.Deidre

Sweeney is going to miss Hall and the rest of her coworkers as well. She recently told TV Guide, "...all the defining moments of my life -- graduating high school, falling in love, getting married, having babies -- were shared with the people at DAYS. Now it's really hard to imagine my life without them, but it's my choice and it's the right one."

But the departure, which Sweeney announced in January, is by no means final. Sweeney hopes Sami will be popping back into Salem for special occasions. "I could not handle it if I was not there for the show's 50th anniversary next year. I very much wanted that door left open and Gary Tomlin wrote a great send-off story that allows that to happen," she told TV Guide.

Sweeney's exit from DAYS doesn't mean slowing down. She is already keeping busy with other projects. She'll remain host of The Biggest Loser, and her fourth book, Scared Scriptless, which is about a script supervisor on a popular television show, will be published on June 3, 2014. She hopes her departure from DAYS will allow her to pursue new projects while having more time to spend with her family.

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What are you hoping for in Sami's goodbye scenes? What have been your favorite Sami storylines and moments throughout the years? Tell us what you think in the Comments area below, or you can also click here to submit feedback.

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