Obituary of Margaret Mary Reilly

Margaret (Peggy) Mary O’Connor Reilly

(1930-2021)

Valley Falls, NY- Margaret M. Reilly

Beloved Wife, Mother, Sister, Grandmother, Aunt, Godmother and Friend.

Margaret Mary Reilly, (Peggy) 91, passed into eternal life on October 15th, 2021 at her home in Valley Falls, NY surrounded by her loving family.  She was the wife of William Edward Reilly, with whom she shared 63 wonderful years of marriage. She was passionate about her family, her strong Catholic faith and her career as an elementary school teacher in Scarsdale, New York.

Margaret was born on February 21, 1930 in Troy, NY to the late Francis Joseph (Frank) O’Connor and Sara (Sally) nee McInerney. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oneonta State Teachers College and a Master of Arts from Teachers College, Columbia University. In 1958, Peggy married William Edward Reilly of Valley Falls, New York. They lived in Albany, NY, and Rumford, RI, eventually settling in Scarsdale, NY where they lived for over 40 years. Peggy was a part of the original faculty of the Heathcote School in Scarsdale where she taught for over 25 years.  She was a devout and active parishioner of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Scarsdale, NY, where she also served on the St. Veronica’s Guild.

Peggy was a voracious reader who could often be found nose deep in a novel. She had interests in fashion trends and spent many hours shopping at Lord and Taylor’s or Boscov’s. Politics and sports were favorite pastimes as well.  However, educational pursuits were her priority. Peggy advocated for and promoted the Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts in Education at Heathcote School and completed many advanced courses at Scarsdale Teacher’s Institute. Her greatest love however was her husband and her children, whom she loved having close to her. 

Margaret is survived by her loving husband William Edward Reilly, five loving children: Anne E. Reilly of Jupiter, Florida (husband Kurt Saari), Sara E. Reilly of Norwalk, Connecticut, William E. Reilly Jr., of Norwalk, Connecticut as well as Lawrence F. Reilly of Sheffield, Massachusetts and Eileen M. Reilly (husband John Ruocco) of Brooklyn, NY; by her brother Francis Joseph (Joe) O’Connor (Doreen) and her sister, Elizabeth (Betty) Potter (Donald John (Don) Jr., and three grandchildren (Devin and Caroline Saari, and Paul Ruocco).

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, October 20th at Transfiguration Parish North, 17 South Main Street, Schaghticoke, NY from 4 to 6 pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, October 21^st at Transfiguration Parish North, 17 South Main Street, Schaghticoke, NY followed by Interment at St. John’s Cemetery, Schaghticoke, NY.

Memorial donations in memory of Margaret M. Reilly can be made to the Valley Falls Free Library, and/or Meals on Wheels, Rensselaer County Unified Family Services Department for the Aging.

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