HOMOSASSA, FL: Margaret Harrison Attridge, 86, of Homosassa, FL and Little Neck, Ipswich, MA, died on March 5, 2008 after a long illness. She was the loving and devoted wife of Robert W. Attridge, with whom she shared 56 years of marriage.
She was born in Orange, New Jersey but spent her youth in Salem MA, graduating from Salem High School in 1939, after which she attended Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School. Margaret was a World War II widow, her first husband, Joseph A. Poirier, being killed in Italy while fighting with the 10th Mountain Division.
Margaret was involved in a number of Catholic Charities, serving as past president of the North Shore Catholic Charities, as well as the Saint Williams Guild of Saint John’s Prep. Margaret was a Christian in the true sense of the word, always willing to help wherever needed.
In her earlier years she was a skiing enthusiast, later becoming an ardent golfer and a member of Sugarmill Woods and Southern Woods Country Clubs in Homosassa, and locally as a member of Salem and Wenham Country Clubs. Margaret also loved to travel, prior to her illness taking trips to Ireland, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean and Alaska.
Above all she was a devoted mother to her seven children, Joseph A. Poirier of Shelburne MA, Mary E. Silvestri of Plainfield CT, Robert W, Attridge, Jr. of Safety Harbor FL, Peter D. Attridge of Manchester MA, Martha A. Corr of Somersworth NH, Richard A. Attridge of Salem MA, and Margaret J. Nickerson of Stowe VT. In addition, she is survived by 17 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She will be soulfully missed by all. May she rest in peace.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, March 28, 2008 in the St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, Cabot St., Beverly, MA at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held in the St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem MA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Catholic Charities North at Lynn, 55 Lynn Shore Drive, Lynn, MA 01902.