Valley News of Lebanon
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Margaret DePalma Tanguay, former resident of Lebanon, NH, passed away on October 10, 2020, 4 days after her 98th birthday. She was born in Boston, MA to Florence (Cantlin) and Angelo DePalma. The family moved to East Plainfield when she was in the 8th grade. Margaret graduated from Lebanon High School and completed a year at the University of New Hampshire before entering nursing school at Peter Bent Brigham in Boston. After graduation she joined the Navy where she served during WW2 as a nurse in Boston and Bainbridge, MD. Margaret married Jean Paul Tanguay, another Navy veteran and a Pearl Harbor survivor, in 1946. They had 3 children and over the years Jean's work took the family from Lebanon to Medford, MA, Monroeville, PA, Ossining, NY, and Chatham, NJ. Margaret loved nursing. She worked in a variety of settings from hospitals, to private duty, to a bowling alley, and nursing homes. After working as head nurse at Bethel Home in Ossining, NY, she was appointed administrator for a new nursing wing which she helped plan and develop. Margaret and Jean retired to Fort Pierce, Florida in 1975. She returned home to NH in 2010 and lived at Quail Hollow in West Lebanon for 10 years.
Margaret loved to have fun. She loved caring for others. She loved people of all ages. She thrived in social settings where she made many, many friends. She enjoyed talking to everyone she met and had an endless supply of jokes and entertaining stories. She consistently tried to brighten everyone's day. Margaret enjoyed knitting and usually had several craft projects going at once. She had an enduring love for music and spent countless hours playing her electronic organ. She enjoyed giving weekly concerts for her neighbors at Quail Hollow. Music of the '40s and '50s was her favorite. Margaret loved being with her family and delighted in her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Many years were spent together, enjoying the family cottage on Mascoma Lake.
Family and friends cite Margaret as an inspiration for her strength, her determination to keep going, her willingness to give anything a try, and for always making things fun. She had a true love for living and a relentlessly positive attitude which sustained her through her long, well lived life.
Margaret was predeceased by her husband Jean, son Philip, and brother John DePalma. She is survived by her daughters Nancy Tanguay of Pittsboro, NC and Barbara Tanguay of Cold Spring, NY, her grandsons Seth Slater, AJ Amero, and Daniel Amero, and great grandchildren Zach and Sophia Slater, and Avett and Molly Amero. She leaves behind a small army of devoted family members and loving friends. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her.
A celebration of her life (a party, of course) will be held at a later date when larger groups can gather. A burial at the East Plainfield Cemetery will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations may be made in her name to any organization but those related to nursing, hospice care, and veterans would please her.
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