Marguerite Q. Zappa

Marguerite Quinn Zappa died unexpectedly on Monday, January 13 at the age of 66. Born December 12, 1958, in Alexandria, Virginia to Rita Spaulding Quinn and the late Dr. Paul Quinn, she grew up attending The Basilica School of St. Mary followed by Saint Mary’s Academy. A proud graduate of St. Mary’s College in Indiana and an ardent Notre Dame fan, Marguerite shared a special bond with her father over the success of the Fighting Irish on the playing field and rarely missed watching a game. She began her professional career at IBM in sales. There, she met her beloved spouse, John, and was married at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown. They were wed for nearly 33 years.

The couple relocated to Pittsburgh, PA where she worked for a decade in fundraising at Carnegie Mellon University. After moving with her family to Chicago, she continued as a fundraiser for the University of Illinois and later at the Archdiocese of Chicago. In her position, she vigorously championed support for Catholic education – a job she relished and aligned with her deep faith and convictions.

Before recently retiring to Ligonier, PA, Marguerite actively participated in Chicago’s St. Clement parish for more than 20 years. There, she exemplified her care for others, frequently serving meals to the homeless and immigrant populations and praying the rosary with fellow parishioners.

Practical, forthright, and vibrant, Marguerite was deeply loyal and supportive of those she loved, always humoring their interests even if it meant backpacking in the Canadian Rockies on her honeymoon. An accomplished cook, she frequently hosted dinner parties and was an avid reader. She prized family relationships and nurtured them through travel, from hiking in the Pyrenees and the Rockies to sightseeing all over the world. She was known by family and friends for her thoughtfulness, kindness, and empathy, which she often expressed in the form of prayer cards, letters, and notes of gratitude.

She is survived by her spouse, John Zappa, of Ligonier, and her daughter, Anna Zappa of Washington D.C., along with sisters and brothers-in-law Catherine Johnson, Patricia (Sam) Murnane, and Irene (Marvin) Winston; nieces Kelly Allman, and daughter Abigail, Madeleine Winston, and nephew Tilden Winston; father-in-law Robert Zappa; brother-in-law David Zappa; and sister-in-law Jeaneen Zappa (Matt Frueh).

A viewing will be held at H.P. Brandt Funeral Home on Perry Highway, Pittsburgh PA on Sunday, January 19 from 12 PM - 4 PM. The family will receive guests at the Franciscan Monastery, 1400 Quincy St. NE, Washington D.C. on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 from 10:30AM-12:00PM, with a Funeral Mass beginning at 12:00PM followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in her honor to St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN (www.saintmarys.edu).