Margaret L Sheldon's Obituary
Don’t be sad. I have lived a terrific Life!
Maggie was born April 3, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents were Dr. Joseph T. Loughlin and Margaret J. Loughlin, RN. Maggie graduated from St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn with an English degree. This led to a lifetime of correcting grammar, especially with the difference of lay and lie! Maggie met the man of her dreams shortly after college. Maggie and Joe McGrane married on January 9, 1943. Joe and Maggie started their loving relationship living in Detroit, Michigan. The first two of five children were born in Detroit. Joe was transferred to Chicago, Illinois and began travelling five days a week. Maggie was busy with two toddlers and pregnant with a third child. Within 8 years of moving to Chicago, Maggie had a total 5 children, handling all of the ups and downs as a single parent Monday through Friday. The day to day tasks of laundry, diapers, naps and cooking were met with a quiet grace. The occasional catastrophe (hospital trips, chicken pox, scrapes and falls) were handled with patience and love.
The McGrane family moved back to New York, not to Brooklyn but to Westchester County. Valhalla was not anywhere near Brooklyn! Maggie was the chauffeur, grocery shopper, cook and referee. Joe was still traveling but not as much. With one boy, four girls, four bedrooms and two bathrooms, Maggie was able to keep life on an even keel most of the time. After 26 years of a loving marriage, Joe died. Maggie picked up the pieces and got on with life. Maggie moved to Dunedin, Florida and continued with her outgoing style. She was a docent at the Salvador Dali Museum, a clown(Deep Purple) with the Comedy Connection at Morton Plant Hospital, a member of the Brooklynites of Florida, and read stories to Dunedin Elementary students. She was also a volunteer at the Dunedin Historical Society, Faith in Action and the Red Hat Society.
Maggie was always ready to talk, help or otherwise engage people. When she asked “How are you?”, she actually expected a real answer. She cared for people, visiting those who couldn’t get out. She was involved in different groups of people and was loved and appreciated. Her faith in God and belief that all of us are created in God’s image was her guiding light.
For all those who knew or were touched by her, please celebrate the life of a wonderful lady!
What’s your fondest memory of Margaret?
What’s a lesson you learned from Margaret?
Share a story where Margaret's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Margaret you’ll never forget.
How did Margaret make you smile?