MARGARET HORNE WEIS

WEIS MARGARET HORNE
Age 84, of Fox Chapel, passed away on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. She was the devoted wife of 53 years to Judge Joseph F. Weis, Jr.; loving mother of Tracey Weis (Lancaster, PA), Joseph F. Weis, III (Fox Chapel) and Christine Weis Grant (Boston); the playful grandmother to Michael, Tori, Connor, Trevor, Alex, Tuck and R.J.; she is also survived by her younger brother, Thomas Horne (Virginia) and by her nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Navy pilot Lt. (jg) Thomas L. Greaney, a member of the Navy's Hurricane Hunters, and their oldest daughter, Colleen. He perished in September 1955 when his plane flew into the eye of Hurricane Janet. Peggy was also preceded in death by her brother, George Horne (Florida), her sister, Dorothy Winn (Virginia), and her sister, Mae Siegle (Pennsylvania.) Born and raised in Pittsburgh (Morningside) Peggy attended St. Raphael's school. Growing up next door to the convent on Jancey Street, she and her brothers, George and Tuck and sisters, Mae and Dot had to maneuver between the persistently peeled eyes of their parents and the sharp-eyed supervision of the nuns. Peggy managed, more than once, to elude the surveillance of the adults and engaged in high jinks. When she wasn't getting into mischief, Peggy was instructed in the craft of sewing by her mother and the art of politics by her father, a long time official with the City Treasurer's Office. She was a willing student in the former and a reluctant scholar in the latter. Her employment career was heavily influenced by her love of travel. She began her life in travel as one of the first stewardesses for Capitol Airlines in the 1950's, worked at several travel agencies, and then became a principal of Forbes Travel Agency in Fox Chapel. Although somewhat hesitant about her husband's entry into public life in running for the Common Pleas Court, she became an enthusiastic supporter. Recalling her early exposure to electoral work, on one Mother's Day she commandeered her restive children and their friends as well as numerous nieces and nephews for envelope stuffing and mailing. Peggy played basketball in high school and would have scored more points if, in her enthusiasm, she did not foul out of most games in the first half. An avid athlete, she was a prime mover in the construction of tennis courts at the Pittsburgh Field Club. She enjoyed golf and tennis and could often be found in the evenings after the workday playing either sport with her husband, Joe. Her athletic experiences took her from the red clay courts of the Rivera to a rooftop court in Hong Kong and the resort of Coolum, Australia. Peggy was very versatile. She was an accomplished seamstress and made many of her dresses and jackets as well as her daughter's wedding gown. She took great pride in her many home projects including wallpapering, upholstering and light carpentry. Peggy happily accompanied Joe, her husband, on many assignments and sparkled at numerous judicial conferences, including those at the Supreme Court and many other venues in this country as well as in Rome, Edinburgh, Dublin, London, Augsburg, and Strasburg. Peggy was a dedicated advocate of St. Lucy's Guild for the Blind, sponsor of the Medallion Ball, and the Lawyers' Wives of Allegheny County. She was a devoted member of St. Scholastica Parish and involved in committees for both the church and school. Friends will be received from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday at the MCCABE BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, INC., 6214 Walnut Street, Shadyside. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in St. Scholastica Church in Aspinwall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 1028 Benton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
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