Mrs. Margaret M. "Peg" Lally

Margaret M. Lally LOWELL – Margaret M. (Murphy) Lally passed away peacefully at home on March 25th at age 97 with her family by her side. Margaret, also known as “Margie”, “Peg”, Peggy”, “Nana Peg”’ “Aunt Margie”, “Ma Lally” and “Ma” was born in Lowell in 1924 the beloved and youngest daughter of six children of Patrick and Catherine (O’Riordan) Murphy of Gleanntan, Town of Mallow, Ireland. She attended the Butler Junior High School where she was a two-time Spelling Bee Champion and was a 1941 graduate of Lowell High School. Margaret met her husband Albert “Harold” Lally of Lowell, at The Commodore Ballroom in 1950 as they both enjoyed dancing. They married in October 1951 and enjoyed 40 years of marriage until Harold passed away in 1992. She was a life-long member of the former Sacred Heart Parish in Lowell where she held membership in the Holy Rosary Sodality and served for many years as a Eucharist Minister. After high school Margaret enjoyed a career as a clerk at the Lincoln Stores and then the Courier Citizen. After she raised her children she was employed by the Lowell School Department as a para-professional at Lowell High School, Rogers Elementary and Butler Elementary Schools. She loved travelling and enjoyed trips all around New England and all over the United States and Ireland visiting family and friends. She was a terrific travelling companion and greatly enjoyed her twice yearly trips to Cape Cod. Margaret enjoyed the friendship and companionship of “The Girls” and their monthly lunches, phone calls and get togethers. She was a big fan of Jeopardy and really liked the nightly phone call from one particularly good friend, Louise Gill. They would compare answers to see who got Final Jeopardy and discuss the qualifications of the evening’s contestants. For almost 25 years Margaret was found behind the scenes working as Stage Manager and Stage Mother for the Standing Room Only (SRO) Players. She was affectionately known as just “Ma” to the cast, crew and audiences. She even assisted with costumes one year by crocheting 30 scarfs during rehearsals for the cast to wear in one production number. Margaret is survived by her sons, Michael Lally of Lowell and Brian Lally and his wife, Judy, of Smithfield, VA. She was “Nana Peg” to four grandchildren, Erin Nesslage and husband Brian, Sean Lally and his wife Sarah, Kristin Munford and her husband Herbert, Tim Wenk and his wife Melissa. She was so pleased to be “Nana Peg” to nine great grandchildren: Terra, Brooke, and Bennett Nesslage; Sean Lally; Hartley and Hazel Wenk, Alexandra King, Brian Gorsuch, Caliyah Munford and one great, great grandchild, Hudson King. She loved the kids and enjoyed their many FaceTime visits over the years. She was also blessed with 22 nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Harold, she was predeceased by her son, Kevin Lally and his partner, Sheldon Cox; her Godchild Tom Warrington; by her wonderful brothers, Dennis “Joe” Murphy, Daniel “Ed” Murphy and his wives, Claire and Alice (Dolan); John Murphy and Helen of Seattle, WA; sisters Hanora “Alice” Warrington and her husband Percy “Pat”; and Catherine Coleman and her husband Warren “Joe” Coleman. You are invited to attend her wake on Friday, April 1st at the Fay McCabe Funeral Home at 105 Moore St. Lowell from 3 to 7 p.m. In addition, you are invited to attend her funeral Mass on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 144 East Merrimack St. Lowell, MA 01852. Burial to follow at Saint Patrick Cemetery, Lowell. Her family completely understands if you cannot attend; please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either The Brush Art Gallery and Studios, Lowell, MA www.thebrush.org 978-459-7819 or the Lowell Association for the Blind at www.lowellassociationfortheblind.org 978-454-5704. Arrangements by Fay McCabe Funeral Home, 105 Moore St. Lowell.

Mrs. Margaret M. "Peg" Lally

March 25, 2022