Margaret M. Cleary

Peggy was born in Derby, CT on August 29, 1920, the daughter of the late William S. and Julia Stone McLeod. She resided in Derby until 1929 when she moved to Danbury with her mother and grandmother to the family homestead, which has been in the family for 5 generations.

She attended St. Peter School and a graduate of Danbury High School Class of 1938, where she was class Vice President. Peggy was considered the unofficial class historian by keeping in touch with classmates and chairing the class reunions – the last one being in 2003 where 65 classmates met for the last time celebrating their 65th anniversary.

Peggy attended the former Danbury Teacher’s College and Becker Junior College, graduating in 1941. She became a corporate executive secretary for several local companies. Peggy became the first person in Fairfield County to receive the honor of attaining a Certified Professional Secretary designation. For 40 years she was the proud owner of Cleary Secretarial Service, developing personal resumes and job search procedures among being helpful to many companies and clubs throughout the Danbury area.

Peggy and Don were married on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1942 at St. Peter Church in Danbury and settled in Bethel, where Don was affiliated with the Dolan companies. Later Peg and Don returned to the old homestead in Danbury, but Peggy maintained a special attachment to Bethel as her great uncle, the Reverend Michael J. Byrne, was the first pastor of St. Mary’s Church, Bethel.

Peggy is survived by her two sons: Donald F., Jr. and his wife, Carol; and Brian M. and his wife, Sonja. There are five grandchildren: Traci Hart and her husband, Jerry; Tricia Hicks; Kevin Cleary and his wife, Meredith; Karen Taylor and her husband, Chris; and Christiaan Cleary. Four great grandchildren: Katie and Samantha Hart, Brayden Taylor and Emery Cleary. Two nieces: Judy Dolph Schlemmer and Carol Dolph Milczarski. One nephew: Edwin J. Dolph.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 10:30am at St. Peter Church, Danbury with the Rev. Gregg Mecca, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery.

Friends will be received on Thursday from 5pm to 8pm at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Peggy’s memory may be made to Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, 39 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury, CT 06810 (www.regionalhospicect.org) or to Ann’s Place, Home of I Can, 80 Saw Mill Road, Danbury, CT 06810 (www.annsplace.org)