Margaret "Marge" (Sturges) MacPherson

After many years of declining health and always overcoming each health crisis, Margaret “Marge” MacPherson, closed her eyes, Monday night, October 7th and went home to be with God.

Marge lived a long and interesting life. She met her husband of 73 years, Angus “Mac” MacPherson, shortly before her 16th birthday, in Savannah, Georgia where Mac was stationed prior to WWII. It was love at first sight for Mac, and a couple of weeks later, he was called to active duty. For four years, Mac fought the war in the South Pacific. Prior to his leaving, Mac asked Marge if she would wait for him and write to him. She said “yes” and upon returning from the war they married on March 24, 1946 in South Boston.

For more than 73 years, they lived the vows that they made to each other, especially the “In sickness and in health, part of them.

Marge made medical history at the age of 65, when she underwent the first operation of its kind in the world when Dr. Michael Stone removed a liver tumor laparoscopically at the New England Deaconess Hospital, in Boston.

The family would like to thank the many staff members at Nevins Nursing Home, who took such care of her for the last year and a half.

She retired from Charles River Laboratory after 23 years of service as an animal technician, in 1992.

She leaves behind her devoted husband, Mac, her daughter, Ruth and her husband, Joe Raimondo of Methuen, MA; daughter, Marilyn and her husband, Gary Abate, of Windham, NH, son, Joseph of No. Hollywood, CA and daughter,  Elaine Hargreaves, of Pelham, NH.

She also leaves 8 granddaughters, 1 grandson, 6 great granddaughters, 11 great grandsons and 1 great great granddaughter. She will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her. Marge will live on through her many descendants.

Marge will be laid to rest this Saturday, October 12th, from the Dewhirst and Boles Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen, MA. Their phone number is 978-687-1333. Calling hours will be from 9:00 to 11:00 with services to follow. We will then make our way to the Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel Mausoleum at St. Mary's Cemeteries, 6 Woodland St., Methuen, MA , arriving before 12:00 for the committal service. A Mercy Meal will follow.

We will provide driving directions for our relatives who will be coming from the south of Methuen.

Because Mom will be interred in a Mausoleum, we respectfully ask that nobody sends flowers to the funeral home. There is no place to display floral arrangements at the Mausoleum and it would be wasteful and a shame to see beautiful flowers discarded after the brief service at the funeral home.

If you would like to make a donation to a charity that Mom supported, we would suggest St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Rd., Kanab, UT 84741 or MSPCA at Nevins Farm, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844.

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