Margaret Hanley

1933 - 2024

Margaret Hanley
06/23/1933 - 10/29/2024
Margaret Rosemary Hanley of San Carlos passed away on October 29, 2024, at the age of 91, following a brief illness and with her two daughters at her side. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, Margaret greeted all in her life with attention and a warm, gracious smile.
Born in Milford Haven, a fishing port in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, Margaret was the youngest of two children. In her youth, she participated in sports, playing field hockey and tennis, and excelled academically. Despite the austerity and rationing that marked wartime Britain, she cherished joyful memories of her upbringing, particularly having numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins just steps away from her home.
Margaret graduated at 17 and moved to London, living with her aunt and uncle, to pursue business school training. Over the next several years, she had jobs in London and Pembrokeshire. At 26, Margaret emigrated from Wales to Vancouver, Canada, to join her older brother and his family. There, she found a job as a secretary and immersed herself in vibrant city life, enjoying tennis games and walks at beloved Stanley Park.
Three years later, Margaret joined friends who were moving to San Francisco. Once she arrived, she secured a job with the Schlitz Brewing Company and rented an apartment with a friend on Sacramento Street. Fate intervened in San Francisco; she met the love of her life, Ray Hanley, at the Golden Gate Park Tennis Courts. Their meeting marked the beginning of a beautiful love story that would last 60 years.
Margaret married Ray in 1965 and settled in San Carlos, where they raised their two daughters and spent the rest of their lives together. Margaret worked for the City of San Carlos for 25 years, serving as City Clerk for 18 of those years. She was a consummate professional and cherished the opportunity to serve her community, oversee local elections, and forge meaningful friendships.
Margaret always yearned to explore new places, whether a simple day trip to Santa Cruz or Chrissy Field or a more extensive vacation to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, or Hawaii. After retiring, she found immense joy in traveling with her husband to Europe, visiting National Parks, and discovering the wonders of Australia and New Zealand. She frequently returned to Wales to visit family and share her beloved Welsh beaches and culture with Ray and her daughters.
Above all, Margaret loved her family. She put the needs of her children first, embraced her husband's large extended family, and created a caring and loving home. She deeply loved animals, especially cats, even sheltering kittens and feral cats in need. Margaret was an avid reader and a frequent library patron. She read novels and newspapers voraciously, always with a cup of tea and often with a cat purring in her lap. Margaret was a longtime member of the San Carlos Racqueteers, a local tennis team, where she played until age 86.
Margaret is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ray Hanley, her parents, James and Lillian Keegan, and her brother Gerald.
She is survived by her two daughters, Jennifer Salma (Riyad) and Melinda McClure, along with her grandsons, Evan and Cameron McClure, and Mason and Rhys Salma. Margaret is also remembered fondly by many nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 15, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church in San Carlos, followed by a luncheon at the church.
All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a charity of your choice that reflects Margaret's love for open natural spaces, beaches, and animals.