Margaret Mary (Peggy) Carney Houlahan, born November 17, 1930, was called to heaven on Thursday, November 21, 2019. Peggy enjoyed her 89th birthday celebration where she was surrounded by family and friends and was the happiest she had been in years. She is preceded in death by son Timothy James Houlahan, parents Desmond and Mildred Carney, sister Maureen Caren, brother Michael Carney and niece Judy Caren.
Her first love and greatest joy was being a great military wife & mother, raising five children. After successfully raising her children, she went on to San Antonio College School of Nursing and along with cohort and dear friend Betty Johnson graduated in 1979. At the age of 50 she passed the State Boards obtaining her RN designation. Peggy worked in several hospitals and specialty fields until landing in Oncology where she remained until she retired. She worked at NE Methodist Hospital for Dr. Schell, Oncologist extraordinaire, for over 10 years. She was a Breast Cancer survivor and while giving Chemotherapy to herself, she was administering it to her patients as well. She was able to give comfort because she was speaking from experience. Being so loving and caring made her as awesome a nurse as she was a wife and mother. After retirement she volunteered at BAMC in the Volunteer Listeners’ Program, again helping and listening to those alone and facing their own uncertainty. Peggy was an avid gardener and loved working in her yard. Her love of quilting and knitting had her making quilts for all her kids and grandkids, as well as quilting and knitting for friends too. She loved to entertain and cook for friends and family. The annual Houlahan St. Patrick’s Day party was legendary.
Peggy is survived by her husband of 68 years, Col. (Ret.) Robert F. Houlahan, USAF, daughter Kathy & Jack Rogers, granddaughter Tracy & DJ, great grandchildren, Isaiah, Gabrielle & Jeramiah, granddaughter, Victoria & Stephen, and great grandson, Elijah. Son Kevin & Veronica Houlahan, grandchildren, Melissa, Robert II, Kevin Jr., Jennifer, Anthony, Rafael & Carlos. Daughter Jo & Greg Evans, granddaughters, Ashley, great grandson Harrison, granddaughter Jennifer & Keith, great grandsons Emmitt & William. Daughter Beth & Gary Evans, granddaughter, Stephanie & Robert, grandson Thomas & Sarah, granddaughter, Erin & Jonathan, great grandson Rylington, granddaughter Emily & Theodore, granddaughter Ellen & Thio. Son Brian & Shawna Houlahan, grandson Brandon & Lexie, granddaughter Brinna.
A Memorial Mass will be held at the Chapel at the Army Residence Community, 7400 Crestway, San Antonio, TX 78239 from 11 am to 12:00 pm, followed by a reception at the Resident Lounge across from the Bistro from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Interment will be held at 2:00 pm at Holy Cross Cemetery, 17501 Nacogdoches Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266. The family would like to invite all to join the Celebration of Life at the Hilton Garden Inn Conference Center San Antonio/Live Oak, 8101 Pat Booker Road, Live Oak TX 78233 – Ballroom A, from 4p to 8p.
The family would like to thank the amazing caregiving staff at the Oaks, especially Connie, Ashley, Christina & Melissa. In addition, we would like to thank the extraordinary employees at Lakeside Villas, including Marcy, Jackson, Juan, Melissa, Jenny, Barbi, Emy, Yvonne, Irma, Mai, and any others whom Mom “adopted” while living there.
