Margaret Anne Lane

Margaret A. Lane, Peggy as acquaintances called her, or Oma as family referred to her, died peacefully Monday at the age of 83 at Sibley Memorial Hospital. She was surrounded by her beloved husband of 59 years, William "Bill'; daughter and best friend, Debra, and granddaughters whom she helped raise and guide, Anne Marie and Kristin and their spouses, Mark and Alex who all held her in the highest regard. A true matriarch of the family, when Oma was happy everyone was happy. She was quiet in large groups but full of wit and stories one on one. A third generation Washingtonian, her knowledge and history of the area was vast. She shared memories of a time where the area she resided in, Barnaby Woods, was farm land with dirt roads, and milk was delivered daily to the front porch. If we mentioned what street we were headed to for a dinner, regardless of the quadrant, she could typically recall someone at some point that lived at the house we were headed to or someone that had resided just a few doors down. True to her German roots she would never mince words or tell you what she thought you wanted to hear. Oma was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church and was a volunteer teller for many years. A dog lover and always a dog owner when it came time to say good bye to each of them over the years she'd say, "I'll see you on the other side." We know they were all waiting for her yesterday. Raised by a stay at home mom, Peggy, was determined not to do the same. A bookkeeper by trade, she started her own company, Chevy Chase Business Services- built solely by word of mouth, and has managed hundreds of clients over the years. Her clients have ranged from investment firms, to small business owners- law firms, doctors offices and child care centers, to DC's elite, to several elderly clients who simply couldn't manage their personal accounts in the end. Retirement was the only thing she didn't excel at in life and as we began calling the clients she still had, we were repeatedly told what a God send she was to them and that knowing her, they knew she was giving the doctors in the ICU a run for their money. She was and she fought until she couldn't anymore. Still sharp in the last days, she could comprehend what the doctors were telling her and understood that her body just couldn't do it anymore. As confidently as we could in the last minutes with her we told her we'd take the reigns, that she should rest, and to enjoy retirement.

The viewing and funeral will be held Sunday, October 2, 2016 at St. Pauls Lutheran Church, 4900 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008. The viewing will be held at 1 p.m. with the service to follow at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Arrangements under the direction of Joseph Gawler's Sons LLC, Washington, DC.