10/31/39 – 2/18/19
Margaret “Peggy” Dianne (Ritterbusch) Oliva, 79, passed Monday, under hospice care. Peggy was born in New Jersey but spent the majority of her life on Long Island. She spent the last years at her home in Concord, New Hampshire near her daughter Christina.
Peggy went to SUNY University at Albany College for Teachers and completed her degrees at CW Post, earning a Masters of English. She was a lover of books, poetry, history and art. She traveled the world honoring literary persons and places as she went. Shakespeare and Dickens were two of her great loves. Peggy was a beautiful, charming and vivacious adventurer. A true people person.
Professionally, she spent a few years as a librarian in New York and at the University of Austin Texas, until committing herself to teaching English in both the Glen Cove Middle and High School until her retirement in 1996. She was loved dearly by her students and colleagues alike. A great teacher who was interested in cultivating a love in reading and writing for pleasure, as well as life skill.
Peggy struggled for the last 30 years with various debilitating auto-immune diseases that slowly and insidiously limited her ability to enjoy life in the way she wanted. Throughout she maintained an active mind and a determination to leave a positive mark. While confined to a bed and wheelchair, she made deep and lasting familial relationships with her numerous caregivers and their families. Celebrating special occasions, exchanging gifts and sharing love till the end of her life. Bevon Delva, Sandra Naranjo, Miriam Gonzalez, Patricia & Sarah Kremer, Joanie Zeledon and more were friends, sisters and daughters to her - their families her family and visa versa.
Peggy was preceded in death by the love of her life and beloved husband, Pat Oliva, and her parents, Edward and Christine Ritterbusch. Peggy leaves behind to cherish her memories, her "gift from God" and daughter, Christina Oliva Rodolico (Jack), their son, Giacomo (her great joy), her stepson, Dan Oliva, stepdaughter, Patrice Oliva Guadagni, and her grandchildren Mitchell and Lindsey Guagani, numerous dearly loved cousins, her loving brother, Roderick Ritterbusch (Kathy), and her “first children", nephew, Edward Ritterbusch (Julia), niece, Christine Barth (David) and their beautiful children - Benjamin, David, Katherine, Lauren and William.
Peggy was a generous and caring daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and a faithful friend to so many. She loved fiercely her circle of friends she grew up with - Judy Whitmire, Patricia Fishcer, Lillian Witte, Joyce Olsen and Barbara Palumbo. They were always on her mind and in her heart and always will be. Peggy was so grateful for the many people she befriended through her circle of teachers and church community at 1st Presbyterian Church in Southampton, NY. And felt blessed to make new friends with her family of in-laws, especially Linda and Jack Rodolico who cared dearly for her and helped ease the challenges of the last few months of her life with laughter, soup, cookies and much more.
Peggy's mind was as sharp as a tack until the end - still nearly photogenic. She will be remembered for unending generosity, unsolicited grammatical corrections, her love of learning, party planning, animals and General Hospital. She loved sitting on her back porch in the sun, watching the flowers grow and the animals roam. She loved and was loved dearly.
If you are interested in honoring Peggy with an alternative to flowers, consider giving a donations to one of these charities that meant something to her:
1. ARF - The Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons. saving lives, enriching yours
2.The Concord Coalition to End Homelessness - https://concordhomeless.org
3.The Children's Place & Parent Education Center - https://www.thechildrensplacenh.org.
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