Margaret M. Balfe

Margaret M. Balfe known as Peg or Peggy, passed away on June 28, 2019. She was born on July 22, 1935 in New York City to Ann Keating Balfe and John Thomas Balfe, who were residing in Mount Vernon, NY at the time. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Rye, NY, where she attended Resurrection Grammar School and was in the first graduating class at the Academy of the Resurrection. She attended St. Mary’s College at Notre Dame, Indiana and graduated from NYU with a B.S. in education. Peg earned her Masters of Science in Education at Hunter College in NYC and did Post Graduate Studies at Fordham University and Manhattan College.

Peg taught pre-school at a Pengilly Nursery School in Larchmont, NY and was a reading specialist in various NYC elementary schools. She was a teacher for many years at Sts. Peter and Paul in the South Bronx, until 1982, when she became Principal at Our Lady of Victory School in Mount Vernon, NY. She initiated many innovative programs at Our Lady of Victory, including After School Programs, the Writing to Read Program, a School Newspaper, and, most important for the community, a Pre-K Program for 3 and 4 year olds. She retired to Cape Cod in 2000, where she was active in the Choir at Holy Redeemer Church, and kept busy with a part time position at Pine Acres Realty. She enjoyed traveling with her friends, saw much of the world, and always liked to hear about the adventures of others.

Peg was predeceased by her parents, as well as her sisters Anita Balfe Bradley and Marie Balfe Richardson. She is survived by her sister, Eileen Balfe Harrigan of Rye, NY, 15 nieces and nephews, and several cousins.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Redeemer Church, 57 Highland Avenue, Chatham, Massachusetts at 11AM on Tuesday, July 9, 2019. The family will receive visitors at Nickerson Funeral Home at 87 Crowell Road in Chatham from 9AM to 10:15AM Tuesday July 9, 2019. Burial will be in the family plot at St. Joachim’s Cemetery, Beacon, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Peg’s memory can be made to the Ann K. Balfe Memorial Library Fund at St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.

Peg’s Family are grateful to her physicians as well as the Staff of Broad Reach Healthcare: Rehabilitation, The Victorian, Liberty Commons, and the Hospice Staff; and to her many friends and neighbors who assisted during the course of her battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Cancer. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.