January 6, 1915 - January 6, 1915
COOPERSTOWN - Margaret L. Rees, a long-time resident of Cooperstown, died early Wednesday morning, December 31, 2014, at Valley Health Services in Herkimer. She was six days away from celebrating her 100th birthday.
Born at home on January 6, 1915, in Milltown, New Brunswick, Canada, she was the daughter of Albert and Muriel L. Martin Peterson. Her family moved to the State of Maine in 1918, where her father became employed as a loom fixer at Bates Mills in Lewiston, Maine. She graduated from Lewiston High School with Honors and then attended Bliss Business College in Maine.
On November 17, 1937, Margaret married Leo A. Rees in Lewiston, Maine. They met while skiing on an adventure club outing in Maine. They moved to Rome, New York, Leo's hometown, where they rebuilt, owned and operated the Beaver Brook Golf Club. Margaret was famously known for her chicken dinners and chocolate pies served at the clubhouse.
In 1950, the Rees family moved to Cooperstown and settled into their home on the River Road. Margaret and Leo were active golfers and enjoyed Otsego Lake boating in their cabin cruiser, "Moonlight", named after Margaret's Grandfather Martin's 2-masted schooner, "Moonlight", that was based in Calais, Maine. Their love of Maine also brought them to Bailey Island for many wonderful family summer vacations.
She was a communicant of St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church, a member of St. Mary's Altar Rosary Society and Choir, the Cooperstown Glee Club, the Cooperstown Women's Club and Native Daughters of Cooperstown. She was a volunteer at Bassett Hospital, the Red Cross Blood Drive, the Fenimore House, the SPCA, and for the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts of America. She was integral in the creation of the Otsego County SPCA Thrift Shop, receiving an award for her many years of service. Most recently she became a member of The Daughters of the American Revolution and had ancestry on "The Mayflower", of which she was very proud.
For many years, Margaret was employed at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital where she was Supervisor of the Chemistry Laboratory during the tenure of Dr. Theodore Peters, Jr.
She had a green thumb for growing African Violets and Hollyhocks, was an avid reader, loved playing the piano, playing bridge and attending the Glimmerglass Opera. Prior to moving to Valley Health Services, she resided for fifteen years at the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home in Cooperstown.
Margaret is survived by one son, David M. Rees and his wife Helen of Oneonta, three daughters, Mary Lou Famulare of Manlius, Jane Cimbal and her husband Denis of Winchester, Virginia and Margaret (Peggy) Smith of Cherry Valley; ten grandchildren, Catherine diGrazia Ryan (Jim), Frank Joseph Famulare III, Michael J. Famulare (Courteney), Kelly Coleman (Wade), David M. Rees, Jr., Patricia Gayle Cross, Denis Cimbal, Jr., Peter Cimbal (Sophia), Timothy Cimbal (Vivian), and Jonathan Smith; several great grandchildren, including Michael and Karli diGrazia, Emily Elizabeth Todorov, Alison Rees Famulare, Cody and Dylan Cross, Cory Gallaty, Tricia, Hannah and Paige Cimbal, and Declan and Juna Cimbal; and one great great grandchild, Janie Gail Gallaty, along with many nieces in Maine, nephews in Hawaii and Albany, and a cousin in Nova Scotia.
She was predeceased by her husband, Leo; one brother, Kenneth Peterson; son-in-law, Frank Joseph Famulare; a granddaughter, Elizabeth (Famulare) Todorov; and granddaughter Patricia's husband, Richard Wade Cross .
A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at a later date at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown. Burial will be in Lakewood Cemetery in Cooperstown.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Thanksgiving Fund, 48 Grove Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
Liturgy of Christian Burial
Updated June 19, 2015
Liturgy of Christian Burial
Updated June 19, 2015
COOPERSTOWN - The Liturgy of Christian
Burial for Margaret L. Rees will be offered at 10 a.m. on Wednesday,
June 24, 2015, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman
Catholic Church in Cooperstown, with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor,
officiating. The Service of Committal and Burial will follow in
Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown.
A long-time resident of Cooperstown,
Margaret died December 31, 2014, just six days away from celebrating
her 100th birthday.
Arrangements are under the care and
guidance of the Connell, Dow, & Deysenroth Funeral Home in
Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
