Margaret L. Buchignani

Mother of Prominent Memphis Clergymen, had Zest for Life

Two of her five children went on to hold prominent leadership positions in the Catholic Archdiocese of Memphis while another became the first woman to serve as head tennis instructor for the United Nations, but Margaret Weber Buchignani will be remembered for her spontaneity and zest for life, according to those closest to her.

Mrs. Buchignani died on August 15 in her Miami Shores, FL home with her daughter by her side. She was 97. Her death came on the birthday of her late husband, Richard Gustav, with whom she shared 50 years of marriage.

Her eldest son, the Rev. Richard Buchignani, holds a Canon law degree and recently retired as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Lawrenceburg, TN. Another son, Monsignor Peter Buchignani, studied at the Vaticans North American College in Rome for four years and now serves as pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi parish in Cordova, TN. Her daughter, Margaret, competed on the Virginia Slims tennis tour and was inducted in the Barry University Hall of Fame before going on to become the head pro at the United Nations in New York City. She is now head tennis pro at the Surfside Tennis Center in Surfside, FL.

Born to Albert and Julia Weber on October 23, 1911 in Nashville, Mrs. Buchignani was a piano prodigy. By age 3, she was able to emulate complex piano medleys after hearing them played, a talent that would bring her and her family enjoyment for many years. If I played a recording of Liberace playing and mother playing you would not be able to tell the difference, says her daughter. She could hear a song and copy it perfectly.

Mrs. Buchignani collected dolls and enjoyed making evening gowns for herself and her daughter to wear at the opera. During a recent hospital stay in Miami, Mrs. Buchignani delighted nurses when she attempted to redesign her hospital gown.

I went in and saw this gown kind of twisted and turned and both shoulders bare, recalls her daughter with a smile. Mother said, I just decided to redesign it because it was not very flattering. She was just full of surprises.

Mrs. Buchignani enjoyed working out at the gym well into her 80s and making new friends wherever her travels took her. This came easy to her with her warm smile and friendly Southern manner. When she liked someone she typically called them, doll baby.

Her daughter recalls being admonished a few years ago to stay out later after returning home from the tony Lincoln Road area of Miami Beach at the unrespectable hour of just 3 a.m. She was so surprised. She looked up at me and said, why are you back so early? The places down there arent closed yet. I said, well the people I was with got tired. Not everybody is like you.

Though she never drank or smoked, Mrs. Buchignanis zest for life always remained with her. She jumped at an opportunity to go to a George Michael concert at age 96.

I said mother I have these tickets, says her daughter. She said, let me think about it for two seconds. And then she said, yes doll baby, lets do it. We had an absolute ball. She was dancing at the concert. She stood up to keep clapping with the music. Two guys in back of us took her hands and danced around. We had the best time.

Mrs. Buchignani is also survived by her son, Albert, a retired social worker, who lives in DeFuniak Springs, FL with his wife, Linda. Though both are retired, they still enjoy helping people in need. Mrs. Buchignani is also survived by a son, Paul and his wife, Mary Dinah of Memphis, TN. He is an architectural designer and both he and his wife have donated resources to designing various chapels and other buildings for good causes throughout the United States.

A visitation will be held at 5 p.m. on August 20 in Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 8151 Chimneyrock Boulevard, Cordova, TN. The funeral will be held in the same location on August 21 at 1 p.m. followed by burial on August 22 in Calvary Cemetery, Memphis.http://videos.lifetributes.com/84782