Margaret ‘Peggy’ Ann Callaghan
Margaret “Peggy” Ann Callaghan, adored wife, mother and Nana, as known to her 56 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, slipped out of this life on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, when she lost her excruciating battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She had the vast majority of her many family members at her bedside.
On Sept. 7, 1963, she married Thomas P. Callaghan of Poughkeepsie. They moved to Tupper Lake, where she raised their five children, while Tom worked his career as a long-haul trucker.
Peggy was involved in a number of associations over the years as a volunteer and/or committee member, including Red Hats, HGA Home & School Association, Owls Head-Mt. View Ladies Auxiliary, Piercefield Ladies Auxiliary, Tupper Lake Hockey Association, Catholic Daughters of America, Tupper Lake Adult Center, Board of Elections and the Republican Committee.
Peggy also spent countless hours at the indoor/outdoor hockey rinks cheering her beloved sons on, as well as countless nights calling the NYS troopers to go looking for her three wayward teenage daughters, while on their journey to becoming the wonderful women they are today.
Peggy held several positions over the course of her life, the highest being homemaker and caregiver, followed by American Management Association, Mercy Healthcare Center (cook), Tupper Lake Adult Center (cook), Tupper Lake Central School, Grand Union Hotel, Al’s Lounge and various seasonal cleaning jobs throughout Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake and Long Lake.
Peggy’s leisure time passions included camping, reading romance novels, knitting and tending to her plants and flowers throughout the years. She also bowled on the Ladies Friday night bowling league for a number of years on Fletcher’s Scrappers team, winning a multitude of trophies over the years.
Peggy is survived by her husband Tom of 62 years; her daughters Pam Callaghan Whitley (Steve), Becky Callaghan Kopp of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Debby Callaghan Gagnier (Kirk), Tommy Callaghan (Candy), and Larry Callaghan (Monique), all of Tupper Lake; her sister Dolores “Dee” Boyea and brother Michael Boyea (Cheryl), all of Owls Head.
Peggy was predeceased by her father Watson Boyea, her mother Sadie (King) Boyea and stepmother Florence Boyea; a brother, Watson “Butch” Boyea, Jr.; a sister, Patricia “Pat” (Boyea) Thompson; a grandson, Stephen Paul Whitley; a granddaughter, Rochelle Louise Charron; and a great-granddaughter Olivia Rochelle Charron. She is also survived by her beloved, rehomed cat, Tigger. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Alzheimer’s Research in memory of Nana Peg.
Calling hours for Peggy will be at the Frary Funeral Home on Cliff Ave in Tupper Lake on Wednesday, March 5 from noon to 2 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. A funeral mass will be held Thursday, March 6 at 11 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Church on Wawbeek Avenue in Tupper Lake. A celebration of life will directly follow at the VFW on Park Street in Tupper Lake.