Margaret "Peggy" Wheat

Margaret "Peggy" Wheat

Spring Lake - Margaret "Peggy" Wheat, 85, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones on March 28, 2018.

Peggy was born in West Orange, NJ on February 3, 1933 to Daniel and Mary O'Rawe and was the oldest of three children. She graduated from Mount St. Dominick High School in Caldwell and Berkeley Secretarial School in East Orange. She worked as an executive assistant at A.J. Smith in Bloomfield.

Peggy married the love of her life, Charles Wheat, in 1955. They lived in Montclair before moving to Spring Lake Heights in 1958 where they raised their six children. After raising her children, Peggy embarked on a new career as the Banquet Manager at Doolan's Shore Club in Spring Lake Heights until her retirement. Peggy was a longtime communicant of St. Catharine's Church in Spring Lake. Peggy's true joy was found in her children, her grandchildren, her Irish heritage and her devout faith.

Peggy is predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Charles Wheat; her brother-in-law, Frederick Fletcher; and her nephew, John Fletcher. Peggy is survived by her six children and their spouses: Kevin and Jeannie of Manasquan; Daniel of Brielle; Mary Kathryn and Mark Berner of Jensen Beach, FL; Margaret Rose and Joseph Kotran of Toms River, Colleen and Charles Jasperse of Brick, and Terence and Carole of Brielle. She is also survived by her 14 grandchildren: Ian, Justin, Emma, Lindsay, Brittany, Amy, Joseph, Ashley, Sean, Lauren, Jack, Megan, Timothy and Daniel. She leaves behind her sister, Rose Marie Fletcher; her brother and sister-in law, Daniel and Dorothy O'Rawe; and many beloved nieces and nephews. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Viewing will be held at Reilly Bonner Funeral Home in Belmar, NJ on Tuesday, April 3rd from 3-7 pm. Funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Catharine's Church in Spring Lake, NJ on Wednesday, April 4th, at 10:30 am. Burial will follow at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery in North Hanover, NJ at 1 pm. Donations may be made in Peggy's memory to Oceans of Love (www.oceansoflove.org). Condolences can be made at www.reillybonnerfuneralhome.com.