Dempsey, Margaret Elaine 'Peggy' (McCormick) --- 1930-2013
MCCORMICK, DEMPSEY, HOWES, MYERS, BRISSETT, KRUGER
Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunter
Date: 5/21/2013 at 09:19:31
4/24/2013 Waukon Standard
Margaret "Peggy" Dempsey
Margaret "Peggy" Elaine (McCormick) Dempsey died at home in Richmond, VA March 26, 2013 after a prolonged illness. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated April 1 at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Richmond, VA.
Peggy was born January 12, 1930 in Waukon to Bernice (Ryan) and Leslie McCormick.
She graduated from St. Patrick High School in 1947 and worked as a secretary to attorney Martin Nolting before moving to Clinton, where she met Jim Dempsey, her husband of 57 years. Jim’s work for Dupont brought a transfer to Virginia in 1961.
While raising two daughters, Elaine and Anne, Peggy’s volunteer work at the parish school led to a position as school secretary, a work that she loved. Her exceptional people skills and administrative competence meant next accepting a request to undertake myriad responsibilities in the growing church community. Colleagues in this core group describe Peggy as the heart who set the standard for working hard while having fun. In her last volunteer task for St. Edward’s Church, she was a major contributor to an acclaimed book noting its 50-year history.
Peggy’s values were faith, family and friends. Faith in action behind the scenes characterized her life. Paramount were her daughters, their activities, friends and spending time with her grandchildren. Worldwide travelers themselves, she and Jim also made their home a destination for relatives touring historic Virginia. Warm, welcoming and generous; she was happiest when she was treating others to home-cooked meals and desserts.
The deaths of her parents in the 1960s meant she had no immediate Waukon connections; yet it always evoked “home” to Peggy. Until their 60th anniversary, she and her cousin/classmate, Dan Whalen, organized regular reunions of St. Pat’s Class of ’47. In failing health, she insisted on traveling to attend the all school reunion in July 2013 and to arrange a gathering of Midwest cousins in Dubuque.
Peggy was preceded in death by her parents; by her brothers, Bill and Jim McCormick; and her sister, Marita Howes.
Peggy is survived by her husband, Jim; her daughters, Elaine Dempsey of Mill Valley, CA, and Anne (Perry) Myers and their children, Trey and Mary Elizabeth, all of Richmond, VA; her brother, Jack of Yakima WA; and her sisters, Marilyn Brissett-Kruger of St. Croix Falls, WI and Sr. Anne McCormick, PBVM of Dubuque.
Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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