Margaret A. Shutterly

Margaret A. Shutterly, 46, of Richmond, died at home on November 16, 2002 surrounded by many of those who knew and loved her. Cherishing her memory are her husband, Michael T. Shutterly; three sons, Jeffrey, Andrew and Nicholas; three sisters, Mary Amelia Ashcraft and her husband, David of Raleigh, N.C., Martha Ann Witzig and her husband, Tom of Annandale, and Melissa A. Hartman and her husband, Alan of Woodbridge; a brother, Brooke R. Rector of Laurel, Md.; her mother, Frances B. Rector of Kensington, Md.; a great-aunt, Elizabeth Wilson of Durham, N.C.; her mother-in-law, Nijole R. Shutterly; a brother-in-law, R. Steve Shutterly of Boise, Idaho; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends. She was briefly preceded in death by her father, Ralph L. Rector, who lovingly went ahead to prepare the way for her. Margaret was a graduate of the University of Delaware who served for 12 years as an analyst with the U.S. Department of Defense; after the fall of the Soviet Union, she gave up that career and moved with her family to Richmond, where she devoted herself to rearing her beloved children, each of whom brought great joy to her life. Filled with a boundless love of life, she was a friend to all living things, regularly befriending and at times saving stray and wild animals, who naturally turned to her for help. She truly embodied her name, which means ’pearl, born of starlight’, and while her body has faded, her light shines on in the hearts of all who were blessed to have known her. Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 19, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the West Chapel of the Bennett Funeral Home, 11020 W. Broad Street Rd., where a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 20.