In Memory of Sr. Margaret Marie McPeak, DW, 97, 6/28/24 - 9/14/21

Sr. Margaret Marie McPeak, Sr. Marie Marguerite de la Sagesse, 97, 6/28/24 - 9/14/21

Born to parents William and Emma Marie Kaufman McPeak of New York City, NY, on June 28, 1924, Sister Margaret, aka “Peg,” at 76 years professed, was called to eternal life on September 14, 2021. Sister was predeceased by her brother Charles McPeak.

Sister made first profession on February 2, 1945. At 95 years old and 75 years professed, she recalled one of her most memorable experiences as a Daughter of Wisdom. “Not many years ago, I received a reply from one of my adult education students, a woman who said, ‘I don’t always agree with you, but you do make me think.’ As a teacher, that’s what you want your students to do; you want them to think. I hope that has happened throughout my entire teaching career. Hearing it from that student was a marvelous experience.”

Before retirement, Sr. Peg worked for twelve years in education and liturgy at St. James Parish in Setauket, New York. Afterward, she continued volunteering at St. James Parish. As she lightheartedly recalled, “I had three retirement parties. Every time I retired, they wanted me to come back and help with something else!” She also volunteered at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, New York, and served on the board of Thevenet Montessori School in Highland Mills, New York.

Prior to her last position at St. James Parish, Sr. Peg spent nine years as the Principal at St. Boniface in Sea Cliff, New York, preceded by three years as Principal at St. Mary Gate of Heaven in Ozone Park, New York. Previously, she was Director of Religious Education at St. Anastasia in Harriman, New York, after serving as Director of Religious Education at St. Kieran Parish in San Diego, California, for three years. She was also Principal for four years at St. Thomas in Madawaska, Maine, spent three years as a teacher at Christ the King High School in Middle Village, New York, taught at Norfolk Catholic School in Virginia for 14 years, and taught for two years at Montfort Academy in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Sr. Peg attended Our Lady of Wisdom Academy in Ozone Park, NY. Then having spent a year of studies at St. Joseph' College, Ozone Park, NY,  she entered the Daughters of Wisdom's Novitiate in Ottawa, Canada. After Profession, she returned to St. Joseph's, earning a BA in English Literature and certification to teach English, Biology, and Social Studies. Sister attended post-graduate school at St. John’s University in Jamaica, New York, earning an MA in English Literature and certification for teaching grades K-6 in Virginia. She went on to earn her certification in Elementary Administration and Guidance from the University of Maine in Orono in 1970. Decades later, she returned to college, earning a degree in Liturgical Studies from Notre Dame in Indiana.

When asked what she is best known for, her Sisters shared that “Peg is considered an intellectual, a challenger and good at what she does.” Sr. Peg had certainly earned those sentiments throughout her religious life, most recently in retirement, as she had found more time for reading and deep reflection, a passion her parents instilled in her at an early age.

In a recent interview, Sr. Peg was fully aware of the fact that she was actively dying. She was happy about the life she had led and expressed no fear, and was excited about the next phase of her existence in eternal life.

During her Hospice care, Sr. Peg was surrounded by her congregation of Sisters, staff, and friends who accompanied her in a special way during her last weeks of life.

Sister will be deeply missed by all who came to know the grace of her presence in her 97 years of life. To make a donation in Sr. Peg’s memory, visithttps://secure.etransfer.com/eft/flexblockcode/donation1.cfm?d2org=DaughtersofWisdom&d2tool=donate

Eulogy for Sr. Margaret Marie McPeak given by Sr. Evelyn Lamoureux, DW.