Margaret "Peggy" Doucette

Margaret "Peggy" (Crotty) Doucette, died peacefully on August 13, 2025, at the age of 90, following many years of gradual decline, joining several beloved family members, including her daughter, Dawn Davis, her granddaughter, Charleen Black, her estranged husband, Donald Doucette, as well as a cherished infant daughter who died just days after her birth. Peggy is also predeceased by her parents, Thomas and Elsie (Shaffer) Crotty, her brothers, James, Edward, and William Crotty, and her sisters, Helen Voss and Winnifred Guilfoyle. The fifth of six children, Peggy was born at her family's home in Malden, Massachusetts, in 1935. Her mother and paternal grandmother (for whom she had been named, Margaret Crotty) considered her to be the most brilliant and precocious infant they'd ever encountered. Her mother often spoke about how quickly baby Peggy learned to walk and talk (which had occurred before she'd reached the half-year mark). After the family moved to North Andover, MA, Peggy attended both Grammar and High School there. Following graduation, Peggy took on a retail job to help her family. In 1957, she married Donald Doucette. Within two years, the newlyweds had started their family. At nearly 40 years of age, Peggy enrolled in college. She was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology, magna cum laude, from the University of Lowell in 1979. The deep recession with which her graduation coincided meant that it would be a few years before Peggy could realize her dream of helping others in a professional capacity. Eventually, her persistent efforts paid off, leading to a career in the non-profit sector that continued well beyond the traditional retirement age. Peggy's long-sought-after life's work initially involved social service coordination for low-income families, a task that was near and dear to her heart, but not sufficiently remunerative to earn a living. She eventually transitioned to roles involving case management, vocational and therapeutic opportunities, and direct support to individuals with disabilities. Peggy approached this work with great dedication, compassion, and creativity. A sincere believer in the power of divine intervention as well as of human love to make the world a better place, Peggy offered numerous intercessory prayers for those in distress, frequent hugs and verbal expressions of love to family members, and enjoyed giving gifts to loved ones as well as making donations to worthy causes. Peggy's favorite charities were those that address childhood hunger and sickness. She continued to draw on her own meager resources to maintain a long-standing monthly donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital right up until the time of her death. By 2018, Peggy's declining cognition and physical frailty had led to the need for full-time, residential care. Peggy enjoyed the last seven years of her life at Warde Senior Living in Windham, New Hampshire, where she participated in many and varied stimulating activities while receiving the kind of spiritual support that she valued. Peggy was a routine communicant at onsite Masses, prayed the rosary when able, and, in her early years at Warde, Peggy relished the opportunity to read inspirational literature and participate in women's coffee klatches, hosted by Sister Kathy, a woman whose love, grace, and insights she found inspiring. During the last few years of her life at Warde, Peggy even rediscovered a long-abandoned interest in art and drawing, much to the delight of the staff at Warde and her family. Peggy is survived by two daughters, Susan Black of Dunedin, Florida and Kimberly Bradford of Seabrook, New Hampshire, her son-in-law, Richard Bradford, her grandchildren, Corey, Shane, Ryan, and Kerry Davis, Charles Black, Christopher Workman, Justin and Sophia Cartier, and great-grandchildren, Christopher Workman, Jr., Mason Wyman, and Stephanie Black, as well as numerous beloved nieces, nephews, grandnephews and grandnieces. It is impossible to overstate the family's gratitude to the staff at Warde as well as those from Amedisys Hospice, who joined Peggy's care team in 2024. Peggy spent her final months, days, and hours in a cocoon of warm support and expert care due to the combined efforts of all members of her care team. To honor Peggy's charitable kindness, please consider a donation in her memory to either, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or online at www.stjude.org/donate or Save The Children, 501 Kings Highway East, Suite 400, Fairfield, CT 06825, or online at www.savethechildren.org/donate Relatives and friends are warmly invited to calling hours on Thursday, August 28, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 223 Lawrence Street, Methuen, MA. A Funeral Service for Peggy will start at 11:00 AM, on Friday, August 29, 2025, at the funeral home, followed by entombment in the mausoleum at St. Mary's - Immaculate Conception Cemetery, 29 Barker Street, Lawrence, MA. The K.H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the Doucette family.