Margaret “Maggie” F. O’Donnell (nee Marggraf), 81, died Wednesday, October 26, 2016 peacefully at the Hyder Family Hospice House in Dover, NH.
Born and raised in Methuen, MA, Margaret was the daughter of Margaret (Gilcreast) and Herman Marggraf. Margaret attended schools in Methuen and graduated from Tenney High School and later Merrimack College. While at her father’s Tally Ho tavern in Methuen, she met her once and future husband, William “Bill” O’Donnell of Lawrence, MA. They were married on August 31, 1957 and together had four sons.
A devoted wife and mother, Margaret followed her husband as his work took the family to Rochester, NY, Southport, CT, St. Louis, MO, and back home to the north shore in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. For the past twenty years, Maggie, as she was better known, made her home on Seabrook Beach, NH, while wintering in Venice, FL. Forever at home in the Greater Lawrence area, Maggie loved spending time with friends, relaxing at the beach, and playing the card games Whist, Spite and Malice and 45s. Maggie’s other favorite past time, dining out, included enjoying a veal on a heel at Larry’s Cedar Crest or a Hamburger Special from Skip’s, and Friday nights at the Hungry Traveler. She will best be remembered for her down-to-earth nature and unbridled sense of humor, which she shared with everyone she met. She loved to laugh and she left us laughing
Margaret is survived by her husband of 59 years, Bill, and their four sons, Michael of Aspen, Colorado, Paul and his wife Sherrie of Charlotte, NC, Tommy of Shelton, CT, and Bill and his wife Kate of Chicago, IL; 12 grandchildren, Meghan O’Donnell and her husband Scott McConnell, Michael, Ryan, Katie, Patrick, Matthew, Kaela, Erryn, Oliver, Elliott, Adeline, William, as well as 3 great-grandchildren Dylan, Liam, and Kassidy, many nieces and nephews. She also leaves her brothers Father Brian Marggraf SSCC of Fairhaven, MA and Paul Marggraf of Methuen, and sister Barbara Teutonico of Methuen, MA.
Friends and guests are invited to call on Monday, October 31, 2016 at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Mission Church, 1 Lowell St. Seabrook, NH from 10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place immediately following calling hours, beginning promptly at 12:00 Noon at St. Elizabbeth of Hungary Church. Per the family’s request, interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Maggie’s memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl. Memphis, TN 38105. For online guestbook, please visit the funeral home website, www.pollardfuneralhome.com. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the O’Donnell and Marggraf Families.