Marguerite M. (Downes) Van Cleft, 88, of Cheshire, CT died peacefully on September 1, 2004 at the home of her daughter, Suzanne M. Callaghan of Mystic, CT. She was the widow of Donald H. Van Cleft.
Born on September 5, 1915 in Philadelphia, PA, the daughter of Francis A. and Emma M. (McGuiness) Downes, “Peg” lived most of her life in Brooklyn, NY and New Bedford, MA. She attended Covenant of Mercy Academy in Philadelphia and Girl’s Commercial High School in Brooklyn. She met her husband while both were employed by the Edison Co. in Brooklyn. After moving to New Bedford in 1957, she was employed for many years by St. Luke’s Hospital.
She is survived by her five children, Suzanne M. Callaghan of Mystic and her husband, Joseph; Marguerite A. Petit of Frankfort, KY and her husband Nicholas; Jacqueline M. Gonslaves of Dartmouth, MA and her husband Brent; Donald H. Van Cleft of Hesperia, CA and his wife Anita; and Jon F. Van Cleft of Stratford, CT and his fiancee, Laurie Jordan, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Service arrangements are private. Contributions in her memory may be made to Hospice of Southeastern CT, PO Box 902, Uncasville, CT 06382.