Margaret Clare LaFreniere

Margaret "Peggy" Espinda LaFreniere, 69, of Atlanta, died November 15, 2010 after an intense nine-month battle with cancer, infection, and treatment complications. Peggy was born on December 16, 1940, in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from Academy of the Holy Angels in Minneapolis, and St. Louis University. She later earned a Master of Education and taught Mathematics in the public schools in California. She returned to school at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and earned a Master of Business Administration. While working in banking and insurance, and following her retirement, she dedicated herself with enormous energy to a large number of causes and organizations. She worked tirelessly to see women lifted up throughout the world, through divorce recovery, placement of women on corporate boards, and funding micro-banks to support women-owned businesses in third-world countries. She was a staunch supporter of the rights of unborn children. She loved the Arts and served on the board of the Ludwig Symphony Orchestra, going to great lengths to ensure its success. She traveled the world throughout her life, and filled her home and those of her friends and family with unique and beautiful objects. Peggy loved to entertain and would take on any size party or gathering easily and with grace. She lived her life with unmatched energy and style. She was a deeply-involved grandmother, and developed special traditions she shared with her grandchildren each year. She was generous with her time, resources, advice, affection and compliments. Her family and many, many friends will miss her physical presence but carry on knowing she has changed the world by changing them. Peggy is survived by her husband, Paul LaFreniere, son, Larry Espinda, daughter, Colleen Meffert, grandchildren, Adam, Victor and Anna Meffert, Gabriella Espinda, Sammy and Brenna Ciotti, brother, Tom Setre, her niece and 5 nephews, and 10-grand nieces and nephews. A funeral mass will be held Friday, November 19th at 10 o'clock at All Saints Catholic Church with a reception following the service. Interment to follow at Arlington Memorial Park at 2 o'clock. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Visions Anew, Ludwig Symphony Orchestra or St. Vincent de Paul society. The vigil service will be held Thursday, November 18th at 6:30 PM at H.M. Patterson & Son, Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30319.