Margaret Jean Machernis

Born Margaret Jean Gillette in 1932 in Scranton Pennsylvania to parents George and Nellie (Morgan) Gillette. The family moved to Springfield Massachusetts in 1941. Margaret graduated from Commence High School in 1950 and went to work for the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Margaret met her husband, John Machernis at the Crystal Lake Ballroom in Connecticut. They were married at Trinity Methodist Church in Springfield, Massachusetts on January 31, 1953. The couple moved to California in 1953. First settling in Glendale, where their son was born. This new and growing family bought a house in Garden Grove, in 1955. Soon after their second son was born. Finally, in 1966, a daughter was the last addition to the family.

John, a carpenter, worked on the construction of Disneyland. Later he was hired by Disneyland and worked as a carpenter in the maintenance department for 23 years. Margaret enjoyed the benefit of complimentary tickets and passes. Her greatest joy was taking her one-and only granddaughter, Lauren and Laurens’ friends to the Happiest Place on Earth.

Margaret and John were members of the Garden Grove Community Church since it’s Drive-In beginnings. They continued their fellowship through the church evolving into the Crystal Cathedral. Margaret was hired in March 1979 as a Sunday school teacher and child care worker. She cared for and loved countless children in her 34-year career. The inception of ICC (Infant Care Center), a place where the employees of the church were provided child care) and the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accreditation of the Crystal Cathedral Preschool were special milestones to her.

One of Margaret’s passions was to travel. Specifically cruising. She logged 316 days on cruise ships traveling to five of the seven continents. She fulfilled her bucket-list wish taking her dream voyage in 2009 ; crossing the artic circle on September 12, 2009. Additionally, she crossed the International Date Line on November 1, 2003 and Equator on November 8, 2003. Most recently she enjoyed sailing to Hawaii where the warmth of the Hawaiian people and beauty of the islands renewed her spirit.

Margaret is preceded in death by her husband John, her brother George and his wife Nancy, brother William and his wife Marion, brother Morgan and his wife Ethel. She is survived by her son John and his wife Carrie and her granddaughter Lauren and husband Bradley W. Reynolds, son Bruce, daughter Lynnell and numerous nieces and nephews.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.westminstermemorial.net for the Machernis family.