Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday (10-29-09) for Margaret A. Garvey Biggins, 907 Forker Blvd., who passed away peacefully at 9:45 a.m. Monday (10-26-09) in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System following a brief illness. She was 88.
Mrs. Biggins was born on February 10, 1921 in Warren, Ohio, the daughter of Michael Angelo and Mary Florence Boyle Garvey.
A lifelong Sharon resident, she graduated from Sharon High School in 1939, and matriculated to Seton Hill College where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1943.
She retired as a home economist from the Penn Power Company in 1986. She was the President of the Electrical Women's Round table.
She was an active communicant of Sacred Heart Church, Sharon.
Mrs. Biggins served on the Board of Directors of John XXIII Home and was a member of their Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed being active and volunteered her time to various community social endeavors.
In her earlier years, she attended the famous French cooking school Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne in Paris, France.
She is survived at home by Francis L. Biggins, her husband of 64 years.
Also surviving is her son, M. Brian Biggins of Hermitage, two daughters, Mary Lee Gavin and her husband Chris of Sharon, and Meg Chandelle Simon and her husband Sam of Fort Lauderdale, eight grandchildren, Molly Matchak and her husband Mark, Allison Brinkley and her husband Ben, Courtney Donatelli and her husband Ray, Tim, Kelsey, and Jeff Gavin, and Rory P. Biggins, and Michael B. Biggins and his wife Samantha. She was the proud great grandmother of Timia Gavin, Hayden Matchak, and Madelyn Biggins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Ann Lawton and her two brothers, Thomas M. Garvey, and Lee Garvey.
The family respectively requests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made in her memory to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) 1700 Peach St. Erie, Pa. 16501, or to the Prince of Peace Center, 502 Darr Ave Farrell, PA 1612.
Calling hours: 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday (10-28-09) in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. 1090 E. State St. Sharon, Pa. 16146.
Services: Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday (10-29-09) in Sacred Heart Church, Sharon, with Rev. Henry C. Andrae, pastor as celebrant. A procession will leave the funeral home for the church at 10:30.
Interment: St. Mary's Cemetery, Hermitage.