Margaret Georgianne "Peggy" Bahn

Margaret Georgianne (“Peggy”) Bahn, of Cary, NC, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, April 26th after a long battle with Multiple Myeloma. She was born in Amsterdam, NY to the late George and Margaret W. Olmstead LeRoy. Peggy was preceded in death by her devoted husband and soulmate of nearly 54 years, Carl, who passed on September 19, 2015. Peggy is survived by her 3 children and their spouses (Terrilynn and Dennis Aves of Cary, NC, Timothy and Kristin Bahn of Essex, VT and Tracey and Brian O’Neill of Littleton, MA), her 2 sisters (Nancy Utter of Phoenix, AZ and Joan Abell of Boca Raton, FL), 5 grandchildren (Ryan Aves of New York, NY; Kayla Aves of Cary, NC; Eric Bahn of Essex, VT; Ashleigh and Elizabeth O’Neill of Littleton, MA), her aunt (Marion Olmstead Cole of St. Johnsville, NY) and many cousins, extended family members and close friends.

Family will receive friends from 5-7 pm at Apex Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 4th. A Memorial Service will be held at 10 am on Friday, May 20th at St. Michael On-the-Heights Church, 340 Burncoat Street, Worcester, MA. The next day, Saturday, May 21st, a funeral service will be held at 10 am at Betz, Rossi, Bellinger & Stewart Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, NY. An hour of visitation will begin at 9 am. Burial will follow the funeral at Chuctanunda Cemetary in Minaville. In lieu of flowers, the family is encouraging donations to: the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, St. Michael’s On-the-Heights Organ Fund and the Humane Society.

Peggy is a 1959 graduate of Wilbur Lynch High School in Amsterdam, NY. She attended Mildred Elly Secretarial School in Albany, NY. She worked for many years as a secretary and administrative assistant during the time she was not a stay-at-home wife and mom. In April of 1961 she met Carl at church. After their whirlwind courtship, they married November 25, 1961, on Thanksgiving weekend, and began their new life together in Amsterdam. They became parents to Terrilynn and Timothy before being transferred to Pittsfield, MA in 1968. Shortly after, Tracey was born and then the family moved to Hickory, NC in 1972. In 1979 their family moved to West Boylston, MA. Peggy worked at the Beaman Memorial Library in West Boylston for many years before taking a position at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the Instructional Media Center. She and Carl retired and moved to North Carolina in 2005 for the warmer climate and to be closer to Terri, Dennis, Ryan and Kayla.

Over the years, Peggy was a member of several churches and attended St. Paul’s Episcopal in Cary. While living in MA, she sang in the choir and volunteered at St. Michael’s On-the-Heights in Worcester. She, with Carl, founded the First Friday Group. Upon moving to NC, they became active participants in the Cary Senior Center. Together, they enjoyed listening to classical music, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Peggy also shared a special connection with her children’s spouses: gardening with son-in-law Dennis Aves, quilting with daughter-in-law Kristin Bahn and all things Disney with son-in-law Brian O’Neill. Family was very important to Peggy and was very proud of the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. When she couldn’t be with them, the phone calls from them relating their latest adventures brought laughter and joy. Her dogs and cats over the years (Princess, Honey, Abbey, Chrissy, Fluffy, George, Ashley & Tabby) were esteemed members of the family, bringing joy and entertainment to her life.

Peggy will be fondly remembered for many things: her love of gardening; her festive t-shirts, Christmas and cardinal sweaters and sweatshirts; the “Grammy Cookies”, the countless cross-stitch, crocheting and quilting projects she made over the years for family and friends. She was an accomplished quilter, belonging to quilting groups in groups in West Boylston and Cary. She made beautiful hand-painted porcelain dolls, spending hours sewing the clothing for each named doll. Holidays and traditions were important to Peggy, and she enjoyed decorating for each occasion. Her favorite holiday was Christmas and baked trays of cookies and treats for family and friends.

Above all, Peggy Bahn will be remembered for her blue eyes, her smile and her devotion to Carl and their family.

The family wishes to thank the people who supported and encouraged Peggy and family during her 5-year battle with Multiple Myeloma: Dr. Speca and the devoted medical team at Rex Cancer Center, Hillcrest Rehab at Crabtree, her devoted caregivers Sandra & Jamese, the friends she made during the time she and Carl resided at Waltonwood Assisted Living, the Center for Volunteer Caregiving of Cary, the Cary Senior Center staff, Transitions Hospice Care, and the many friends who were her cheerleaders across the country. The notes, phone calls and kind acts and words will always be cherished.

Whenever, you see a male and female cardinal, think of Carl and Peggy as this was their favorite bird.