Margaret Kathleen Bermingham

Margaret Kathleen Bermingham entered into rest on the morning of March 30, 2023, surrounded by her children in her Redding, California home at the age of 92. Private graveside services are planned, and a celebration of life will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in her memory to Disabled American Veterans (DAV) or to a charity of your choice.

Margaret was born January 7, 1931, in Provo Utah, the daughter of Henry and Marion Daniels, and was the third of four children. She married Charles Bermingham on June 28, 1952.

During high school she was active in sports, particularly tennis, where she won girls doubles championship in the Junior City Tennis Tournament. The pep squad, dancing, sewing and design, also kept her busy along with her studies and work. She graduated in 1949 from Shasta Union High School in Redding, California. After high school, she was involved in community theater and enjoyed performing.

Margaret was treasured by her family and friends, as she was a loving wife, devoted mother and loyal friend. She was a devout Catholic and spent much of her time in later years making rosaries and donating them to charities around the world. In fact, her first order of rosary supplies was in August 2007 with Our Lady’s Rosary Makers, the last rosary she made was in March 2023 only a few days before she passed. Reviewing her meticulous records, she created approximately 16,000 rosaries over 15 years.

The secret to her longevity was her faith, her family and strong spirit, as Margaret always said, “Keep moving!” She was a talented oil painter, golfer, piano player, and also volunteered many years with Mercy Medical Center, March of Dimes, and St. Joseph Church. She also loved playing bridge.

In her own words, “I have always been a person that enjoys learning. My father and grandmother were outspoken about education. When I discovered the value of Chinese Proverbs, the first one I remembered learning was that ‘silence is golden.’ Later in life, I remembered many lessons in short quotations, such as: ‘It’s not what you have or how much you have, but what you do with what you have that counts.’ I especially tried to pass this message on to all of our children. Another favorite is ‘when you are bored, or uncertain of your life, it is not what you do, but how you do it – carefully, not as a drudge.’”

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband Charles and grandson Joshua. Survivors include: her son Kevin Bermingham (wife, Diana); three daughters, Shauna Ratterree (husband, Ron), Sheila Flaherty (Billy), Liz Overstreet; three grandsons, Chris Ratterree, Danny Bermingham, Cory Overstreet, two great grandsons, Dylan and Collin Bermingham, as well as nieces and nephews.