Margaret Wakeman, known also as Peggy, died suddenly on July 4, surrounded by family. Peggy turned 85 on June 17 and had a knee replacement scheduled for July 9 which exemplifies her optimism and vitality. She walked nearly 2 miles a day from her Poplar Park apartment, where her gardens continue to flower. Born in Indianapolis, but raised in Orchard Park, New York, Peggy strongly identified as a Buffalonian: she loved the Bills no matter their record, and maintained close friendships from both Orchard Park High School (class of ‘59!) and Buffalo General Nursing School (class of ‘62). Peggy would think nothing of getting into her car and driving solo across two states to go home to see her friends and parents. Sometimes there would be a dog with her (Frieda!) or once, a Betta fish made the entire trek! Peggy moved to Cape Ann in 1973 with her three children and then husband to be closer to her sister, Gail Burchard, who was raising her two children in Gloucester. From then until 2007, Peggy moved many times: Rockport, Gloucester, the Virgin Islands, Dunedin and Melbourne, Florida, Eugene and Corvallis, Oregon. Her time at Poplar Park was her most settled time. Her vocation was nursing: Peggy served in many fields & found particular satisfaction in labor & delivery and hospice care. She was also able to satisfy her love of travel by spending winters in Florida as a traveling nurse. When asked about her greatest accomplishment though, Peggy would answer, “My three children.” Sara, Tom and Heidi were born in quick succession and she has said some of her happiest moments were when they were all under 5. Her devotion to her children and their families continued, with babysitting, special trips, handwritten cards, hand knit baby blankets, personalized paintings,happy birthday (or any day!) videos, bouquets, baked goods and food from or for the freezer. Peggy’s generosity spilled out of her like water: she loved to bake cookies and cakes for neighbors and friends and if you said you liked a flower from her garden, she would offer it to you. Perhaps you have a scarf or blanket she knit with care and creativity. Peggy was a powerful example of acceptance and courage in the face of adversity. In 2009, she was diagnosed with cancer and underwent a radical surgery that took away her ability to swallow. For 16 years, she was unable to eat or drink anything except via a feeding tube in her stomach. This led to a physical transformation from her once fat body to the slender body she always wanted. If a life is defined by what, who and how we love, Peggy will be remembered by many for her devotions: flower gardening, knitting, swimming (at the Y for many years!), reading, painting, baking, second hand shopping, playing Scrabble, watching the Golden State Warriors with son-in-law, Doug, laughing at Steven Colbert, crushing on Jon Batiste, and ‘stopping by’ for a visit. Some of her special places included Hawai’i, Alaska, Australia, Quarry Street and the Sawyer Free Library. She loved her AA community around the world and found a chosen family there, in particular at the Early Bird meetings. 

Her smile will be missed by many, including daughter Sara & son-in-law Doug Goss(San Jose, CA), daughter Heidi Wakeman & son-in-law Coley Bryan (Gloucester, MA), sister Gail Burchard (Exeter, RI), grandchildren Jessica Goss (Arlington, MA) and Tommy Goss (San Jose, CA), Lucy Fox & husband Gabe Ramos (Wakefield, MA), Miles Bryan & wife Eva-Maria (Fairfax, VA), Owen Bryan (Gloucester, MA), great-granddaughter Magnolia (Wakefield, MA), niece Cindy West & husband John (Exeter, RI) & their daughters Ila, Percy and Lane, nephew David Burchard (Gloucester) & his children Beckett and Posey. Peggy’s son Tom passed in 2025 and the two of them are surely reunited and rooting for the Bills. She also loved and let go of two special dogs: Frieda and Honey. To remember Peggy, honor your own generosity and creativity by sharing something you made with someone you love. Practice acceptance. Take adventures. Plan mystery dates. Laugh with friends. ‘Be good medicine.’ Consider donating to the Sawyer Free Library in her name. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday July 21 at 10:30 at the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church. All are welcome.