Margaret Hurrell Hudelson

Margaret (Peggy) Hurrell Hudelson of Holland joined our heavenly family on August 3, 2024 after 98 years serving as a guiding light to her extended family, fellow church members, friends and neighbors.

Following her birth in Harrisburg, PA in 1925, Peggy moved with her family to Hawaii as a two year old. That event began her life- long love of the Island. As her father advanced in his role as a senior sales executive for H.J. Heinz, the family moved to cities on the east coast – including Buffalo, New York and Norfolk, Virginia. Peggy was honored with a full page of her poetry in the senior yearbook of her Norfolk high school. That event motivated her to continue composing poems and short stories throughout her life.

After obtaining her degree in Education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1947, she felt called into the field of Christian education and entered Princeton Theological Seminary to obtain a Master’s Degree. There, she met the love of her life, the late Reverend Richard W. Hudelson. Once the two graduated in 1950, they married and moved to their first Presbyterian church in Mount Vernon, Indiana. From there, they served additional congregations in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. Beyond bringing up her growing family, Peggy often assisted Richard with youth ministry. An example was a stint overseeing an after school program at Westminster Presbyterian in the inner city of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Peggy leaves behind three sons – John (the late Mary) Hudelson, Adam (Kimberly) Hudelson and Daniel (Joan) Hudelson as well as five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She will be joining her late husband, Richard, in Heaven. Richard and Peggy enjoyed 65 years of marriage. One grandson, Seth Hudelson, preceded Peggy in death.

A daily routine for Peggy was to take daily nature walks. She had a vast knowledge of bird song and native flowers and plants. As she had done at her husband’s churches, Peggy led a women’s Bible study at Appledorn, a senior living facility in Holland, well into her 98th year. She volunteered at a Holland crisis pregnancy center for several years and she instilled a great love of music in her sons, providing piano lessons to them at an early age. Peggy participated in a weekly creative writing group at the Holland Public Library through her mid-nineties. Some of her work appeared in religious periodicals. She would post updated poems at the entryway of her unit in Appledorn. Peggy will be remembered for her love of life and her joy of witnessing in her daily interactions with others.

There will be a celebration of Peggy’s life on Saturday, September 28 at 11 AM EST at her church, Faith Christian Reformed, 85 W. 26th Street, Holland Michigan. Visitation will also be held at the church, Friday, Sept. 27, from 7 PM to 9 PM EST.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be given to the Faith CRC Mission Fund.