Margaret Mary (Fries) Haines, 87, of Mansfield, died Monday, June 4, 2012. Known by her friends as Peg, she died at the Marina Bay Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Quincy after a period of declining health.
Born in the City of Gloversville, New York, on December 26, 1924, she was the daughter of Harry Fries and Margaret “Gussie” (Hogan) Fries, and grew up in Plymouth, MA.
On May 4, 1945, Peg married Herbert “Bud” Burwell in Alameda, California, where he was stationed while in the Coast Guard during World War II. Once the war was over, they raised a family of two children in Randolph, MA. In 1977 they moved to South Venice, FL and built a lovely home. After Bud’s death on June 28, 1983, she stayed in Florida where she maintained her own home. Peg continued to nurture her many beautiful plants and flowers and also enjoyed working as a home health care provider
On August 31, 1986, at St. Bernadette’s Church in Randolph, Peg married George Haines, a widower with five grown children. George was a retired chief with the Boston Fire Department and a retired Coast Guard reservist. Until his death on March 19, 2004, Peg and George lived alternately between their homes in Centerville, MA and South Venice, Fl.
Peg is survived by all seven children: Stan Burwell and his wife Donna-Marie of Mansfield, Judith (Burwell) Hester and her husband Donald of Oakdale, MN., Jack Haines and his wife Barbara of Canton, Lois (Haines) Kelly and her husband Thomas of Mashpee, George Haines and his wife Mary Rita of Quincy, James Haines and his wife Theresa of Quincy, and Laurie (Haines) O’Brien and her husband Jack of Quincy. Additionally, she is survived by 19 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren,1 great great grandchild, her brother Stanley Fries of Apopka, Fl., and many nieces and nephews.
Peg was predeceased by her brother Patrick Joseph Laffey, a Korean War veteran and a Silver Star recipient who died on February 9, 2002.
Early in her life, Peggy showed great ability in the business world. At eighteen, she worked as a buyer for the sportswear department of Buttner Company, Inc. in Plymouth. However, soon afterward she moved to California to marry Bud Burwell. Due to WWII, Buttner was experiencing difficulty getting restock supplies. The business owner contacted Peg in California and gave her unlimited authority to bargain for clothing supplies. Peg’s efforts produced more than enough stock to keep the business running smoothly, and until the war ended, Peg shaped the fashion sense of many of the women of Plymouth County.
Peg continued to excel in anything she undertook. Another example of her creativity and ability could be seen when she was asked by a friend to design custom ribbons to be awarded at events such as horse shows and other competitions. Peg’s designs were immediately approved and Peg became the production manager of a successful business startup.
Peg showed the same outstanding ability and dedicated work ethic in everything she did. Her efforts took her from landscaping, gardening, being a seamstress, collecting and refinishing antiques, knitting, artistic painting, making ceramics, cooking, baking, reading and anything else that interested her. But in later years, what she loved most of all was simply being with her family.
Visiting hours will be conducted at Saint Mary’s Church, 330 Pratt Street, Mansfield, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 14, 2012, followed by a funeral mass at 10 a.m. A private burial service will be held at a later date
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her memory can be made to the Mansfield Public Library, 255 Hope Street, Mansfield, MA 02048, or to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA., 01701.
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