Margaret Pauline Stewart

At 93 years of age, Margaret Pauline Stewart moved on to glory on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. She was a trooper until the end and passed peacefully in her home of 55 years with family present. Between a loving dedicated family and an excellent full-time caregiver, Margaret’s last four years since her beloved husband Alex died were filled with adjustment, blossoming, contentment, and life’s simple joys. We thank God for all the seasons that He gave us with our beautiful and precious Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma. God has indeed been faithful and kind.

Margaret was born on January 23, 1931 in Hallettsville, Texas to Agnes and Joseph Leopold, as the second eldest of 10 children. The family lived on a 90-acre farm in Hallettsville where they grew cotton, ran a dairy farm and sold molasses. The family was self-sufficient except for purchasing flour and sugar. Margaret grew up in a tight-knit, hardworking, moral and strict German Catholic family. She developed a strong work ethic, learning to sacrifice for the sake of the family. Unfortunately, she had to quit school in 10th grade to help on the farm. As a young woman, she also held jobs in Hallettsville at an ice cream shop, Elkins Five and Dime, a grocery store, and the telephone company.

Life took an interesting twist when a new family moved to Hallettsville with boys who also attended the Catholic school. Alex spotted Margaret from the choir loft and the pursuit ensued! When Alex joined the Navy, the courtship became long distance, but the lovebirds wrote each other every day. However, one day the letters from Margaret stopped when she was pursued by another suitor who askedfor her hand in marriage. Alex was heartbroken, yet he decided to deliver her Christmas present anyway—a cedar hope chest and a Navy photo of him. His chivalry paid off! The couple were reunited and were married on May 18, 1953. Margaret left the state of Texas for the first time when she and Alex moved to Whidbey Island, Washington where Alex was stationed for 4 years. During this time, Margaret worked in a cannery and made lifelong friends with the other young military wives. In 1954, they welcomed their first child John (3/54) who was born in Hallettsville, where Margaret’s sister and mother, who were pregnant at the time, delivered their baby boys within six weeks after John’s birth.

In 1955, the family of three moved to San Antonio, Texas where John got a baby sister for his 1st birthday--Debbie (3/55). One and half years later, Sande (10/56) was born. In San Antonio, Alex attended St Mary’s University while working 40 hours a week, which left Margaret alone with three little ones in cloth diapers all day long. She very much looked forward to trips to Hallettsville to see her sisters and mom.

A move to Dallas in 1958 launched Alex’s career as an engineer. They purchased their first home on the GI Bill in Arlington, Texas where Linda was born (2/61). Their second home was in Dallas in an active neighborhood with lots of young families of similar age. Returning to San Antonio in 1968, the family of six moved into the home they have now owned for 55 years. The family became complete nine years later with the birth of Chris (1/70). The house was great for entertaining, and Alex and Margarethosted many swim and volleyball parties. They also maintained weekly date nights to keep their marriage vibrant.

Holy Spirit Catholic Church, which was only half a mile from their house, became central to their family life, and Alex and Margaret made many friends there. The younger four kids attended Holy Spirit School, while John started at Antonian High School as a freshman. Over the 50 years that they attended Holy Spirit, Margaret and Alex became very involved in the church and school community, including Margaret’s service in the Holy Spirit Altar Society and the Ministry of the Sick (taking communion to nursing homes and the homebound).

In their Golden Years, they continued to dedicate time to family and serving others, but they also managed to travel with their ever-growing group of friends. They went on a total of 32 cruises. They also traveled to see their grown kids and grandchildren in four states, to family gatherings in Hallettsville, to the coast with Alex’s siblings, and to Mexico for shopping with Margaret’s sisters. They played in a bridge club for 40 years and went out dancing several times a week. Margaret loved to dance—country- western, two-step, waltz, swing dancing. They both spent countless hours creating a beautiful backyard full of potted plants and yard art. Friends and associates looked forward to the assortment of Christmas cookies that Margaret would make and distribute at Christmas, peanut butter balls being a family favorite.

Margaret’s heart for service shone through her 30 years of volunteering at Meals on Wheels where she delivered meals to the elderly and where she often formed friendships with her “regular customers.” Once Alex retired, they delivered meals together, as Margaret “hired” Alex to drive. Margaret also achieved the 100-pint club status by regularly donating blood to the San Antonio Blood Bank.

When health issues slowed Alex down, they had to give up dancing and cruising. Although it was hard at first, they embraced a new routine with movies out, shopping at Ross, and dining at Red Lobster and Saritas, where they were well-known by the staff. Margaret was an avid reader all her life and enjoyed time to read books and the newspaper daily. Eight years later with Margaret’s health issues, she pivoted once again to a quieter life and learned to be content to stay at home, read, watch tv and visit with family. In many ways, Margaret and Alex’s relationship became sweeter during this time. One thing did not change, they always found a way to laugh together!

Alex’s death in 2019 led to a significant shift. It was difficult to be without her husband of 66 years and it took Margaret time to adjust to a full-time caregiver, but she persevered and made the most of it. She was funny and witty, even without Alex with whom she used to spar. She enjoyed visits from family, formed a sweet relationship with her caregiver and was appreciative for all they did for her.

Through all the seasons of life, Margaret was many things: a hard worker, a faithful, committed wife, a dedicated, supportive mother, a caring grandma, a fashionista (always color-coordinated from head to toe), a shop-a-holic (self-proclaimed trying to pass it off as “retail therapy”), and a bargain hunter (proudly asking, “How much do you think I paid?”). She enjoyed life’s simple pleasures: family, colorful flowers, a good book, games with friends, a movie with popcorn and Diet Coke, including photos and videos of grandchildren and great grandkids that made her chuckle. After each of life’s twist and turns, Margaret adapted and persevered with grace. Some of the things she valued earlier in life—appearance, exercise, outings—faded in importance. (In her last years, she would comment, “I don’t see the fashion police around here!” And she would ask John, the volunteer Physical Therapist of the family, “Why do I need to exercise? Am I going to run a marathon?”). She was feisty ‘til the end! She is loved and will be missed.

From her long and full life, this is likely the wisdom that Margaret would want to pass on:

Worry less, love more, laugh often, count your blessings and dance while you can!

Margaret is survived by:

Children:John Stewart (Susie), San AntonioDebbie Bissell (John), San AntonioSande Stewart, ColoradoLinda Regester (Mark), KansasChris Stewart, Austin

Grandchildren:John’s—David Stewart (Maria), Michele Didrikson (Erik), Adam StewartDebbie’s—Jake Bissell (Alysha), Becca O’Neil (Casey), Kim Weatherby (Cole)Linda’s—Chelsey Dunham (Cole), Brandon RegesterChris’—Nicole, Jonathan, Sydney Stewart

Great Grandchildren:Jake and Alysha Bissell—Dylan, QuinnBecca and Casey O’Neil—Carson, BrookeMichele and Erik Didrikson—Patrick, BriannaChelsey and Cole Dunham—Levi, Cal

Siblings:Sisters: Josephine Janak, Jeanette Brockhaus and Marilyn Kocian;Brothers: Charles, Dennis and Douglas Leopold

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 1, 2024 5:30-7:00 at Porter Loring North.Funeral Services will be at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 12:00pm.Reception will follow (with lunch served) at Alamo Café, 14250 San Pedro Ave.Private interment ceremony will be held at Ft. Sam Houston at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Meals on Wheels San Antonio (mowsatx.org)