Margeurite Hughes, July 10, 1927 - September 3, 2007



From the Asbury Park Press:

MARGUERITE HUGHES left her body for her new home in the early morning of Monday, Sept. 3. She fought the good fight and accepted her fate with courage and strength in her final months and days. She died peacefully holding her daughter Peggy's hand in Merritt Island, Fla. Marguerite "Peggy" was born in Newark on July 10, 1927 and graduated from Columbia High School in 1945. Peggy lived in MIDDLETOWN and Red Bank for many years, near her brother and sisters, commuting to Johnson and Johnson's where she was an executive secretary. In 1964, she married the love of her life, Sgt. Maj. Peter J. Hughes, Jr. The couple traveled where the Army took them, eventually settling in Melbourne, Fla.

Peggy will be sorely missed by her daughters, Peggy McCormick of Germantown, Md. and Maureen Strong of Santa Barbara, Calif. She leaves her brother, Louis McCormick of Naples, Fla.; and sisters, Jane Henning of Greensborough, N.C., and Adrienne Melia of Toms River; as well as her grandchildren, Kelly McCormick Stephens, Daniel McCormick, Jeremy Strong and Adam Strong of whom she was extremely proud and touched her like no others.

Contributions in lieu of flowers can be sent to Vitas Hospice Healthcare Corp, 4450 W. Eau Gallie Blvd, Suite 280, Melbourne, FL 32934. Visitation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave., Red Bank. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, followed by burial. Peggy will be laid to rest in Fairview Cemetery beside her beloved Peter.

Said by me at the services, held on Saturday, September 8, 2007:

There are a number of people here today -- most everyone, really -- who are fortunate to have known my Grandma for a long time. Certainly, longer than I did. And for that, I envy you.

Still, I was a part of her life long enough to know that she loved me. That she was proud of me.

And it is this knowledge, this certainty, that I will keep in my heart forever, and how Grandma will continue to be a part of my life in the many, many years ahead.

Thank you, Grandma.

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