Mrs. Margaret Peggy Stearns

August 01, 1927 - August 31, 2008

Margaret "Peggy" Stearns, 81, of North Vernon died peacefully at her home Sunday morning, August 31, 2008.

Peggy was born August 1, 1927 to newly arrived Ellis Island Irish immigrant parents Owen and Mary Nestor and raised as a proper democrat and catholic young lady in Boston, Mass. She began her working career as secretary assisting the little known struggling motel entrepreneur Howard Johnson. After her marriage to the young sailorman Don Stearns in 1949 and two week old infant son Wayne in her lap, they moved to North Vernon to begin the more rural life as wife, homemaker, and mother of four, along the way managing a second in home career as foster mother to over a dozen area children.

Peggy is survived by her husband of 59 years Donald Stearns of North Vernon; sons Wayne (Priscilla) Stearns, Keith (Joyce) Stearns of North Vernon, daughters Bee (Mike) Murphy, of Butlerville, Peggyann (Rusty) Hamilton of Nineveh. Three grandsons, Robbie Murphy and Ryan Stearns of North Vernon; Donnie Murphy of Pensacola, FL.; and one granddaughter Celia Stearns of Key West, FL. Two great-grandchildren, Riley and Dasen Murphy. A sister Celia Walsh 86, also survives in Boston, Mass.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents and seven siblings including sisters Marion Desjardin, May LaPointe, and Mary McBride; brothers Tommy, Johnny, and Eugene Nestor, and Denny Morrisee, all of the southern New Hampshire and Boston area.

Funeral Information

A wake celebrating her life will be held by her family at the Sawyer Pickett Funeral Home 115 S. State Street, North Vernon on Thursday, September 4th. Open and quiet prayer will be 3:30 - 4 p.m., visitation 4 - 8 p.m. A funeral service will be conducted by Father Stephen Donahue at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in North Vernon at 10 AM on Friday, September 5th.

Donations Information

In lieu of flowers, Peggy asked friends and relatives please support her church, St.
Mary, or the Hospice of Jennings Co. with a donation.