Margaret "Peggy" M. Bracci

Peggy Bracci, 84, of Tequesta, FL died peacefully at home on July 31, 2026, after a brief illness. Born in Springfield, MA on June 27, 1942, to Paul W. Messier and Rose Lynch Messier. She was a graduate of Cathedral High School also in Springfield. Following high school, she began working at New England Telephone and on August 22, 1964, married her high school sweetheart, Gerald (Jerry) Bracci. Together they moved to Enfield, CT and started their family. In 1976, work took them to Tequesta, FL which started the happiest and longest chapter of their life together. She immersed herself in her children’s activities, joining the PTA and becoming a Girl Scout troop leader, which for many years involved organizing boxes and boxes of cookies in the living room for the annual cookie sale. She was present at every possible sporting event for both her children and grandchildren, making time to chaperone out of town tournaments for travel leagues.

Peggy never met a stranger. Her gift to engage anyone in conversation and her attention to detail made working in physician and dental offices a well suited career. When her own children were young, she worked on the staff of a large pediatrician office in Palm Beach Gardens where two of her dear friends were nurses. Later, she managed an ophthalmologist’s office in Jupiter and lastly a dental office in Tequesta, making lifelong friends along the way.

Once their children graduated from college, Peggy and Jerry began to travel. They spent summers back home in New England visiting family and friends, in addition to more far-reaching international destinations. From a transpacific cruise spanning from Australia to San Francisco and many places in between, to a Panama Canal crossing, and to viewing the great artworks of the Hermitage in St Petersburg, they saw the world during their travels. Two of her most memorable adventures were family heritage trips, including three weeks in Italy with Jerry, her children and their spouses, and her grandchildren, and her last international trip to visit Ireland where her mother’s family had originated.

When home in her beloved Tequesta, Peggy enjoyed knitting and making beautiful baby blankets for friends and family, and she was a voracious reader. Her most recent passion was painting, taking lessons and making yet more friends while doing so.

Peggy will be remembered for her love and loyalty to her family and friends and for her beautiful smile. She will be missed profoundly.

She was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by Jerry, her husband of nearly 62 years, her son, Michael J. Bracci and his wife Colleen (DeWoody) of Tequesta, FL; her daughter, Dina Bracci Riviere and her husband, William of New Orleans, LA; and two grandsons, Griffin Bracci and Hunter Bracci.

The family will receive family and close friends at the funeral home on Thursday, August 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with a Memorial Service beginning at 1:00 p.m., all at Aycock-Riverside Funeral Home, 1112 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL. Further services and interment at Riverside Memorial Park in Tequesta will be held privately at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Peggy’s honor to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation at https://nchcf.org/donate/?donating=GenD.