Margaret M. (Murray) Garvey

Margaret Mary (Murray) Garvey of West Springfield died Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at home, surrounded by her loving family. Peg was born to John T. and Mary E. (Davin) Murray in Springfield on May 22, 1921. She graduated from West Springfield High School in 1938 and Westfield State Teachers� College in 1942. She taught in West Hartford, CT and later taught in West Springfield and at Our Lady of Providence School. Peg married Andy Garvey on August 10, 1946. She devoted her life to her family, spending decades raising twelve children, instilling her values of fairness, hard work and generosity. She was a woman of quiet strength and deep compassion who taught us all how to love, to laugh, and to live with a generous heart. In later decades she enjoyed her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, keeping up with their activities and accomplishments and creating an individual relationship with each of them. Peg was predeceased by her husband Andrew J. after 62 years of marriage, her son John �Gump� Garvey, her son-in-law Thomas Arnold and her brothers John, William and James Murray. She is survived by her children Kathleen Arnold of Feeding Hills, Eileen Doherty and husband Fred of Westfield, Anne Garvey and wife Pam Brown of Leyden, Andrew Garvey of Holyoke, Maura Pieciak and husband Mitchell of Hardwick, Christine Sady and husband James of Rockport, ME, Michael Garvey and wife Kathleen of Brimfield, Mark Garvey and wife Debra of Haverhill, Margaret Steiger and husband Philip of Turners Falls, Elizabeth Malone and husband William of Southwick, and William Garvey and wife Maureen of West Springfield. She is also survived by 27 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren and her sister Kathleen Weaver of West Springfield. Peg�s funeral will be Wednesday meet at 10AM for a Liturgy of Christian Burial at St. Thomas Church, 65 Pine St. Burial will be in St. Thomas Cemetery. Calling hours are Tuesday from 4-7PM at the Funeral Home. Because Peg was a lifelong reader who had a card to the West Springfield Public Library for over 88 years, we ask that, in lieu of flowers, donations in her name be made to the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts with �West Springfield Public Library Fund� noted on the memo line. Donations should be mailed to West Springfield Public Library Campaign Office, 200 Park Street, West Springfield, MA 01089. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.