Margaret Peggy Rea

Margaret (Peggy) Rea (80) was born on May 3rd, 1937 in Newton, Massachusetts
and died on December 9th, 2017 in Casa Grande, Arizona surrounded
by her loving family. Peggy enjoyed going to Ak Chin Harrah’s casino; she’s
been going to the casino for several years on Tuesday nights with her friends
to enjoy dancing and listening to music including her favorite band, Thaddeus
Rose. Peggy also loved watching the Diamondbacks on TV; she went to a game
once but didn’t enjoy it because it was too hot, so she began watching the games
at home where it was much cooler. Her favorite players were Louis "Gonzo"
Gonzales and Paul "Goldie" Goldschmid. Peggy even got to meet the players,
get autographs and get her picture taken with them. To say that Peggy never
missed a game would be an understatement as she even rescheduled her knee surgery around their schedule
so she wouldn’t miss any games. Ten years after meeting Louis Gonzales, Peggy went to the Taste of Casa
Grande at the Property with her family and again went to get pictures and autographs; she was so overwhelmed
that she couldn’t speak to him so she sat in the corner and cried. Her daughter, Laura, had to explain
that he had taken a picture with her, her granddaughter, and Peggy’s now deceased daughter, Lorraine. He
was so polite to her and everyone else, she was so amazed. Peggy got to meet the governor of Arizona and
had her picture taken with him. She was even in the newspaper for controlling her diabetes for five years
without medication or insulin shots by controlling her diet. Peggy’s hobbies were embroidering pillowcases
and tablecloths which she’d give out to friends and family; baking gingerbread cookies with her grandkids
during the holidays; taking the kids and grandkids to movies, museums, and Out of Africa; cooking dinners
for her family; shopping for clothes, shoes and purses; and of course, watching the Diamondbacks games.
Peggy enjoyed telling stories about raising her children thru the good times and the bad. About how poor
she was as a single parent raising four children but always managed to keep food on the table by doing jobs
like neighbors’ ironing or cleaning, but no matter how hard things were she always managed to make sure
her children were fed, happy and loved. Peggy was a strong person who always kept her dignity through her
15 year battle with cancer. She always had a smile on her face no matter how hard things were. She stayed
strong and fought hard until the end.
Peggy is preceded in death by her parents, Charles (2007) and Francis (2003); two infant sons at birth;
son, David Stansberry (1980) and daughter, Lorraine Duxbury (2010). Peggy is survived by her daughters,
Beverly Benoit of Winter Haven, Florida and Laura Wells of Casa Grande, Arizona; five grandchildren and
six great-grandchildren. Peggy would like her family and friends to always remember her for her love, humor,
wisdom, strength, but most of all her courage. Memorial services will be held at J. Warren Cole & Maud
Gardens Chapel (525 N. Peart Rd.) on Saturday, December 16th at 11:00 a.m.