1924 – April 19, 2020
Marguerite “Peggy” Grimes, age 95, of Salem New Hampshire and formerly Reading Massachusetts, died due to complications of COVID-19 on April 19, 2020 at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, New Hampshire. Born in 1924 in Medford, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Margaret Carell.
In 1948, she married James H Grimes, Jr., her devoted husband. They met while working together at MIT’s Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel. James and Peggy strongly valued education and instilled those values in their children. Together, they designed and physically built their family home in Reading, Massachusetts in the late 1940s. James’ career as an Aeronautical Engineer for AVCO allowed the family ample travel and educational opportunities. Throughout her life, Peggy traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, Ireland, Italy, Canada, the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, and numerous road trips across the US.
A Mathematician educated during World War II, Peggy earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Regis College where she enjoyed captaining her basketball team. She later went on to achieve a Masters of Education Degree from Salem State College. Over the course of several decades, she worked in various Public and Parochial schools in Reading, Melrose, Winchester, and Wakefield while raising 5 children and becoming widowed in 1970. She retired from Reading Memorial High School after many successful years of teaching Math. From 1971 to 2015, Peggy was also very active and held leadership roles at a local ballroom dance club. Her weekly dancing regimen was instrumental in her retention of physical fitness, strength, and balance in her later years.
Marguerite was the heart and soul of her family. She unknowingly touched many lives and although she had many professional successes, her true passion was being a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She also loved all animals and had a special fondness for tiger cubs, guinea pigs, cats and dogs. Always cheerful, she was the woman who would greet you with a smile at her dance club, in the grocery store, or wherever you encountered her. Even as Alzheimer’s disease slowly progressed, Peggy was always smiling and very pleasant. Our heartfelt thanks go out to her many caregivers, amongst them Paula Jean (PJ) Zoltko of Derry, New Hampshire. We additionally appreciate the care and companionship of several young adult helpers such as LiAnne, Tia, Fiona, Ashley and Matt as well most recently, the caring staff at the Residence of Salem Woods.
She is predeceased by her husband, James and two sisters, Mae and Constance. She is survived by her five children and their (spouses); Bruce (Margaret) Grimes of Kittery Maine, Karen (Peter) Magee of Morris, Alabama, David (Marney) Grimes of Winchester, Massachusetts, Kevin (Anna Marie) Grimes of Wells, Maine, and Kathlene Arnold of Salem, New Hampshire. Peggy was blessed with many loving and devoted grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews as well as their children. Additional survivors are Marguerite’s two siblings; Ruth O’Connell in New York and Suzanne Carell in Massachusetts.
Private services will be held later this year.
Donations can be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association.
For more information, www.facebook.com/BarileFamilyFuneralHome
