Obituary: Margaret (McLaughlin) Bonarrigo

WAKEFIELD, Mass. – Margaret (McLaughlin) Bonarrigo formerly of Orr’s Island and most not long ago residing in Wakefield, Mass., handed absent on Nov. 26, 2022 at the age of 81. Born the 2nd daughter of Eugene McLaughlin and Theresa (Sheehy) McLaughlin in Boston, Mass. on Nov. 9, 1941, Margaret (“Peg” or Peggy” depending on how effectively you knew her) grew up on Myrtle Avenue in Jamaica Plain.

Keenly clever and often curious, Peg was a fast research in how to blaze her individual trail by the earth. She attended Women Latin College and in 1959 was a single of the to start with seven undergraduate females admitted to Boston College’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Senior Jesuit officers objected to their admission and no other women of all ages ended up admitted to the Higher education right until 1970.

After graduation, Peg taught higher faculty English and attained a master’s in English just before returning to college to get her Juris Health care provider (JD) diploma at Boston University in 1972, initially practising in Massachusetts and afterwards in Maine where by she was happily self-employed.

Widowed at an early age, Peg took another opportunity on love, marrying Joe Bonarrigo in 1974 and starting to be stepmother to Lisa, Laura, Jay, Joby, Angela and Andrew. They included to the loved ones the pursuing year with the start of Julia. Married for 32 many years until eventually Joe’s passing, their marriage was grounded in mutual admiration, entrepreneurial spirit, and an appreciation for the place they came from and wherever they have been likely.

An engaged member of the communities the place she worked and lived, Peg volunteered with various non-profit corporations and served on the boards of the Harpswell Yard Club and Orr’s Island Library. Normally a writer, following retirement Peg set about creating two novels, a memoir, and quite a few brief tales. A sampling of her do the job is at the moment in the system of getting printed under her maiden name.

As extraordinary as her academic, expert and other achievements are, Peg will be remembered most by people closest to her for her fast wit, feeling of humor, steadfastness, practicality, clever counsel and superior information. She experienced a uniquely curated set of pursuits and abilities that made her a pleasure to be all around. She was an completed gardener who waged war from the groundhogs that had been devouring her flowers, capturing and relocating the critters to the other side of city. Two policies of gardening she swore by: it’s greater to put a $10 plant in a $100 gap than a $100 plant in a $10 gap, and never ever fertilize the rhubarb. Other favourite adages were, “If you want a little something performed, check with a occupied person,” “The shortest length concerning two details is the way you know,” and “Life is uncertain, start with dessert.” She was an expert knitter. She designed the finest tuna fish sandwiches and famous pies. She cherished tunes, especially Opera and Jazz. An avid swimmer, she competed with her son-in-law to be the initially 1 in the chilly Maine ocean every single year.

Decided to learn the wheel yoga pose by the time she turned 70, she uncovered her makes an attempt thwarted by a yet to be discovered Parkinson’s prognosis lying under the area, a obstacle and actuality she confronted with immense dignity and braveness. The spouse and children needs to extend distinctive many thanks to the healthcare specialists, assisted living group team and people closest to her, primarily her companion, Sy Epstein, for supporting Peg by way of this period of time.

Carrying on Peggy’s legacy and her memory are her sisters Patricia Williams and Theresa Stone and partner C.F. Stone III, brother, Eugene McLaughlin, brother-in-legislation and sister-in-regulation, Richard Bonarrigo and Diane Tabor daughter, Julia Bonarrigo and spouse Matthew Jones and their two daughters, Emily and Sarah companion of the past 12 yrs, Seymour Epstein her six stepchildren and their families, Lisa Bonarrigo and partner Chris Bruni (Andrew, Jordan, Abigail, Aurora) Laura Bonarrigo (Isaac and Billie) James Bonarrigo and spouse Kim (Grace and Vincent) Joe Bonarrigo and spouse Kimberley (William, Alyssa, Brendle) Angela Bonarrigo Andrew Bonarrigo and spouse Jennifer (Amber, Liliana) nephews Charles Williams and Charles Stone, niece, Rosemary Williams and many lifelong good friends, as perfectly as dear pals she manufactured over the study course of her lifetime.

A celebration of Margaret’s outstanding lifestyle will choose area in the spring when the bouquets are blooming. Pie will be served.

For these wishing to honor Peg with a contribution, be sure to contemplate the subsequent corporations: the Orr’s Island Library (oilblogcom.com/offering), Harpswell, and the Pine Street Inn (https://www.pinestreetinn.org/ways-to-give), Boston, Mass.

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