Margaret A. Sloet

EXETER, N.H. Margaret "Peg" A. (Phelan) Sloet passed away Aug. 16, 2008. Her warmth, humor and kindness will be missed by her family and friends. One of the great joys of Peg's life was her work. She worked for Dr. John Merrifield for 30 years, beginning at Emerson Hospital in Concord in the mental health unit. Later, when Dr. Merrifield opened a private practice, she worked as his secretary until she retired at 80. Peg moved to RiverWoods at Exeter when it opened in 1994. She immediately became involved in the life there. She was a member of the music committee for many years, presenting several hymn sings involving local musicians. She was also involved in the play reading group, the resident council and other groups. Peg was also a member of the Exeter Speak-Ups, a branch of Toastmasters International, for several years. In her later years, she became a world traveler, traveling with friends and family to places such as Amsterdam, Prague and Budapest, even embarking on an African Safari in Kenya. Peg's great love for her daughter, Barbara, inspired a lifelong passion in advocating for the rights of all developmentally disabled people. It was a vision that she pursued tirelessly, even in the face of many daunting obstacles. Peg was preceded in death by her dear husband, John, and her brothers, Jack, Ted and Bill. She is survived by her brother, Chet, and her daughters, Marilyn Sloet of Kittery, Maine, Judy Gudeman and her husband, Glen, of Tucson and Barbara Sloet of Brookline; three grandchildren, Peter McDonough and his wife, Barbara, of Virginia Beach, Jaime McGuigan and her husband, Micah Shlauter, of Marlow, N.H., and Christy Cusick of Seattle; her great-grandchildren, Shawn P. and Colette R. McDonough of Virginia Beach; and many nieces, nephews and friends. A celebration of her life will be held at First Congregational Church of Kingston, 6 Church St., Kingston, N.H., Saturday, Aug. 30, at 1 p.m. A reception will follow at RiverWoods, 7 RiverWoods Drive, Exeter, N.H. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her daughter, Barbaras, name to MACRIL Inc., (Specialized Housing Inc.), 45 Bartlett Crescent, Brookline, MA 02446.