Margaret "Peggy" Haapaoja

Margaret “Peggy” Haapaoja passed away at the Colony House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Abington on Thursday, February 11, 2010, at the age of 84 surrounded by family after a period of declining health. For almost 60 years, she was the loving wife of the late Richard C. Haapaoja.
Peggy is survived by her children Karen MacWilliams of Weymouth; Dave and his wife Katy of Pittstown NJ; Carl and his wife Kathy of Mansfield; Tom of Braintree; Gail of Brockton; Neal and his wife Joyce of Rockland; and John and his wife Lisa of Weymouth. She was also much beloved and will be sorely missed by her grandchildren Michael and Steven of Boston; Eric of Arizona; Samantha of Abington; Greg of Weymouth; Caitlin and Kerry of Mansfield; Derek, Zak and Kevin of NJ; Gary MacWilliams of Pembroke; Glen MacWilliams of Virginia; Kim MacWilliams and Jill Dupuis of Louisiana. Peggy was the sister of Dorothy Baldassini of Weymouth and the late Richard Milner of NH. Mrs. Haapaoja will be lovingly remembered by her late husband's family: Ray Haapaoja of Townsend; Carol and Paul Couture of Gardner; and Maryann and Edwin Seppala of Florida as well as many nieces and nephews.
Peggy was born in Braintree, was raised and educated in Weymouth, graduating from Weymouth High School in 1943. She worked for a time in Boston before marrying Dick in 1949. They lived in Quincy and Colebrook NH before settling in Weymouth in 1956. Her life was filled with children and grandchildren, whom she adored. In 1968, to help with college tuition, she went to work at South Shore Hospital as a secretary in the lab, retiring in 1987. She was then free to dedicate time to her children and grandchildren and also to travel with her beloved husband Rikku.
Friends and relatives are invited to the funeral at the C.C. Shepherd Funeral Home, 134 Pleasant St. (Columbian Sq.) S. Weymouth on Wednesday February 17 at 11am. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday from 4 to 8pm. Interment will be in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne on Wednesday at 1:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Peggy’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 311 Arsenal St, Watertown MA 02472. If you would like to leave a message for the family, please visit www.ccshepherd.com.