Margaret A. Foley

1926 - 2020

Margaret "Peg" Foley, 94, of Scranton, died Thursday evening at Regional Hospital of Scranton due to the COVID-19 virus. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas J. Foley, who died in 1976.

Born in Scranton on July 21, 1926, the daughter of the late James "Red" Nolan and Mary Murphy Nolan, Peg was proudly raised in North Scranton. She was a long-standing parishioner of Holy Rosary Church, where she also attended Holy Rosary grade school and graduated from Holy Rosary High School.

She was the mother of nine, grandmother of 22 and great-grandmother of 18. Peg lived her life with grace, humor and, most importantly to her, with a deep faith in God. Her children and grandchildren were her world. Each enjoyed an individual relationship with Peg that was truly special.

She raised her family in a house filled with laughter and loyalty to one another. Holidays were always chaotic and fun. The more babies the better.

Peg worked for the Lackawanna County controller's office for more than 30 years. During her time at the controller's office she developed lasting relationships with co-workers and the many people she met during her daily walk through downtown Scranton.

In her retirement years, she enjoyed quilting at St. Mary's Hall and swimming at St. Joseph's Center, which she continued until she was almost 90. She also looked forward to lunches with the "girls of summer," a group of friends taking a road trip to a new restaurant each week during the warmer months.

She loved family gatherings during the holidays and summer parties at the lake. Weddings were her favorite as she loved to dance. Her love of music started at a very young age when she was invited to sing "Harbor Lights" on a local radio show. It would never take too much prompting to get her to break into a verse of her signature song.

Peg had several lifelong friendships that she enjoyed. She stayed connected never letting too much time pass before reaching out and catching up. Long conversations on the phone with her old friends were always filled with re-told stories and fond memories. She taught her children that friendship was important.

The Foley family would sincerely like to thank Paula Guse for the compassionate care and friendship she showed to our mother over the past few years.

She is survived by her daughters, Mary Clare Higgins and Judith Mawn, both of Dunmore; Ann Marie Yauch and husband, John, Verona, New Jersey; sons, John and wife, Sarah; and James and wife, Mary, both of Factoryville; Joseph, Scranton; and Jerome, Pocono Lake; a daughter-in-law, Nancy Foley, Havertown; her nephews, Robert and Kenneth Reed; a niece, Sharon Jones; and first cousin, Frank Kinsella.

Peg was preceded in death by her two sons, Thomas and Timothy; her brother, James; sister, Joan Charles, who was her best friend and confidant as they raised their families together; her sister, Marion; brother, Jackie; and her two beloved sons-in-law, James Higgins and Frank Mawn.

A private interment will be observed at Cathedral Cemetery. A memorial Mass and celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

Arrangements entrusted to the Edward Knight O'Donnell Funeral Home LLC, 323 William St., Scranton.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph's Center, 2010 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 19509.