Margaret Peggy R McLoughlin

McLoughlin, Margaret R. – 66, passed away on September 27, 2015 surrounded by her devoted family. Margaret (Peggy) was a resident of Boca Raton, FL at the time of her passing. Peggy graduated from Mosshanon Valley High School in Houtzdale, PA in 1966 and Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Altoona, PA in 1969. At the time of her graduation from Mercy, Peggy had the second highest score in the State of Pennsylvania Nursing Board Exams. Drawn to a call for service, Peggy volunteered to join the Army Nurse Corp. Peggy made the Commandant list, could select any Army post she wanted and selected Ft. Hood, TX. At the age of 22, Peggy commanded the Intensive Care Unit at the Ft. Hood Hospital. One night a soldier threatened multiple people present in the unit with a loaded 45 caliber pistol. Peggy calmly talked the soldier into giving her the weapon, preventing anyone from being hurt and resulting in several lives being saved. Peggy continued caring for the sick, in a career in nursing that lasted over forty years in the South Florida area, at such hospitals as Miami Cedars (now the University of Miami), Jackson Memorial Hospital (for twenty-five years) and the Broward Health Organization. At one point in her career, Peggy was in charge of two cardiac units at Jackson Memorial Hospital, with 100 nurses reporting to her twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. While working, Peggy returned to school at night, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Healthcare Administration from Florida International University in 1988 and a Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Miami Law School in 1993. While enrolled in law school, Peggy was a member of the International Law Review. While stationed in Fort Hood, TX, Peggy met the love of her life, her husband, Michael Joseph McLoughlin. Peggy and Michael were married on November 28, 1970 in Houtzdale, PA at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Despite her many career achievements, Peggy’s real passion was her family and her love for her family was always her top priority. Peggy was a loving, selfless and devoted wife, mother and grandmother to her husband, four children and five grandchildren. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents Eugene A. Ronan and Gertrude Catherine Pavlansky Ronan and her brother William John Ronan. Margaret is survived by her husband of forty-five years, Michael Joseph McLoughlin; her children Eileen Marie McLoughlin, Laura Anne McLoughlin Llorente, Carolyn McLoughlin D’Agati and Michael Jude McLoughlin; her grandchildren Maria Theresa D’Agati, Kaitlyn Anne D’Agati, Alexander Michael Llorente, Emma Victoria Llorente and Patricia Erin McLoughlin; her brother Patrick Eugene Ronan and her sister Mary Kay Ronan Geary. Friends and well wishers will be greeted at the Babione Funeral Home (West Chapel) on Thursday October 1st from 2-4 and 6-8 pm; and the Mass of Resurrection will take place at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on Friday October 2nd at 11 am. She will be laid to rest at the South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth.