Margaret Louisa Mullins Pfersich

MONTAGUE -Margaret Louisa (Mullins) Pfersich of Montague died on July 8, 2013, at the Inova Alexandria Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia at the age of 96. She was born in Hatfield the daughter of the late James and Anna (Doppman) Mullins on July 24, 1916. She attended Hatfield schools and graduated from Smith Academy. She was married to Emmanuel J. Pfersich who died in 1952. Margaret, who was loved and respected by all who knew her, was a long time resident of Montague Center where she lived at the same address since 1946. She was employed as a postal clerk at the Montague Center Post Office for more than twenty years prior to her retirement and before that was a long time employee of Goodnow's Department Store in Greenfield. A devoted member of Our Lady of Peace Church (formerly St. Mary's of the Assumption), she was among the first group of 12 laypersons invited to train as Eucharist Ministers in the Church. She then served for many years as a Eucharistic Minister and regularly made visits and brought the Eucharist to residents at their homes and at local nursing homes. She was also a member of the Catholic Women's Council of Montague and was a past president of the Montague Center Catholic Women's Council. She was instrumental in arranging satellite Sunday Mass being offered in the Montague Grange Hall during the 1950's. Community involvement was important in Margaret's life. As a young parent she was a Cub Scout den mother for several years where she particularly enjoyed leading nature hikes and other outdoor activities. Later in life she was involved in a variety of interests including the Montague Historical Society and organizations to protect the environment. Margaret's family was central to her life. She maintained extremely close and loving ties with her children, her brothers and sisters, and in-laws. She particularly relished opportunities to arrange and meet with extended family at family picnics and reunions. Margaret also had a great love of flowers, birds and natural beauty in general. She looked forward each year to the return of blue birds that nested on her property, spring robins and especially hummingbirds that often frequented the large quince bush in her front yard. Margaret was an avid gardener who for many years maintained a large vegetable garden and canned vegetables, jams and fruit for family use throughout the year. More recently she maintained a smaller garden and always looked forward to the summer crop of fresh tomatoes, squash and beans. Survivors include her sons Gordon J. Pfersich and his wife Bonnie of Ocala, Florida, and Emmanuel P. Pfersich of Alexandria, Virginia; her daughter Loretta M. Pfersich of Haverhill; her sisters Gladys Grant and her husband Robert of Westborough and Janet Mullins of Hatfield; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son Peter, sisters Catherine Shea, Anna Smeraldi and Dorothy Packard, brothers Charles Mullins and James Mullins, and daughter-in-law Terry Ellen Pfersich. Funeral services will be Monday (7/15) at 9:15 a.m. at Kostanski Funeral Home, 1 Kostanski Square in Turners Falls followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Church, 90 Seventh St. in Tuners Falls with the Rev. Stanley J. Aksamit, officiating. Burial will follow in Springdale Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Montague Catholic Social Ministries, Inc., 41 3rd St, Turners Falls, MA 01376 or The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, 97 N Hatfield Rd. Hatfield, MA 01038 Sympathy message available at: www.kostanskifuneralhome.com