Published: 6/19/05

Berwyn, Pa. — Margaret Sullivan "Peg" Buckley, 90, of Berwyn, Pa., died Wednesday, June 15, 2005, in Berwyn, Pa., following a series of bouts with congestive heart failure.

She was born in Keeseville, Dec. 30, 1914, the daughter of John D. and Sarah C. (Cronan) Sullivan.

Mrs. Buckley got her teaching degree from Plattsburgh Normal School in Plattsburgh. She taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Peru from 1936-1941. She married M. Edgar Buckley, county agricultural extension agent for Columbia County, in 1941. After having six children, Mrs. Buckley returned to work in 1956, teaching second and sixth grades at Washington Irving Elementary School in Catskill, until her retirement in 1973. The Buckleys had resided in Catskill since 1954.

Mrs. Buckley was a popular teacher at Washington Irving Elementary School, known for her kindness to all. She frequently dug into her own pocket to help children from low income families obtain the basics they needed and stayed involved in the lives of kids who needed guidance beyond their graduation.

Following their retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Buckley split their time between homes in Cocoa Beach, Fla., and Catskill. Mrs. Buckley continued to alternate between Cocoa Beach and Catskill following Mr. Buckley’s death in 1989. She moved to Framingham, Mass., in 2000, then to Berwyn, Pa., in 2004.

Mrs. Buckley is survived by two sisters, Rita Sullivan and Mary Neyenhouse, both of Plattsburgh; one brother, Mike Sullivan of Peru; four sons, Michael of Newport Richey, Fla., John of Berwyn, Pa., Ronald of Wellington, Colo., and Daniel of Tucson, Ariz.; two daughters, Sally Miller of Wellington, Colo., and Karen Fancher of Canton; 12 grandchildren, Alison Rivenburgh of Catskill, Kimberly Stawecki of Deer Park, Jenifer Gurewicz of Newport Richey, Fla., Casey Buckley of Philadelphia, Pa., Kevin Buckley of Phoenixville, Pa., Kristin Andersen of Cold Spring, Megan Buckley of Raleigh, N.C., Aaron Buckley of Charlotte, N.C., Cherylene Plewa of Simi Valley, Calif., Eric Schauber of Carbondale, Ill., Tom Schauber of Cape Cod, Mass., and Ryan Premo of Catskill; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, M. Edgar Buckley; four brothers, Francis, William, Charles and John "Jack"; an infant sister; a nephew, Richard Neyenhouse; a granddaughter, Jessica Premo; and one niece, Mary Sullivan Steingraeber.

Calling hours will be held Monday, June 20, 2005, from 10 to noon at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Peru. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 1 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church in Keeseville with Monsignor Leeward J. Poissant, pastor, celebrating. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

Donations in her memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Vera M. Hardwich, 97, who made her home with her daughter, Mary Lou Leavitt at State Route 374, Chateaugay, died Monday, June 13, 2005, at the Meadowbrook Nursing Home, Plattsburgh, where she had been a patient for a short time.

Memorial services will be held Sunday, July 10, at 4 p.m. in the Plattsburgh United Methodist Church with the Rev. Joy Lowenthal officiating.

Arrangements are with the Chateaugay Funeral Home.

A complete obituary will be published at a later date.