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Margaret “Peggy” O’Brien

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Mass of Christian Burial

Peggy O’Brien laughing in a yellow cardigan in her garden

Margaret “Peggy” O’Brien

May 2, 1941 – March 14, 2026

Friday, March 20, 2026 · 10:00 a.m.

St. Columba Church, Linden Falls

St. Columba Church

Order of the Funeral Mass

  1. Reception of the BodyGreeting and sprinkling with holy water
  2. Liturgy of the Word
  3. First ReadingWisdom 3:1–9 · Kathleen O’Brien Walsh
  4. Responsorial PsalmPsalm 23 · Cantor
  5. GospelJohn 14:1–6 · Fr. Thomas Keane
  6. Homily
  7. Liturgy of the EucharistPresentation of the gifts · Holy Communion
  8. Final Commendation and FarewellSong of Farewell

Celebrant: Fr. Thomas Keane. Burial follows at Holy Cross Cemetery, Linden Falls.

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Her life

Peggy

Peggy and Tom on their wedding day in 1963, in sepia
Our wedding day, June 1963

Peggy was born in Linden Falls, the fourth of six Doyle children, and married Tom O’Brien at St. Columba in June 1963.

She kept the books at Doyle’s Hardware for thirty years, ran the parish bake sale for longer, and never once let anyone leave her kitchen hungry. Tom went before her in 2015.

She leaves Kathleen, Michael and Anne Marie, seven grandchildren, and a garden that still comes up every spring.

3

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 23

R. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.

A psalm for David.

The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.

He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:

He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name's sake.

For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.

Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!

And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.

Psalm 23 (22 in the Douay-Rheims numbering), Douay-Rheims Bible. Public domain.

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Photographs

The life she made

Peggy laughing with her granddaughters at the dinner table
Sunday dinners at our house
Peggy and Tom on the beach on holiday
Cape Cod, 1987
Peggy’s hands holding a seedling in her garden
Mom in her garden

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Prayers

Let us pray

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Traditional Catholic prayer. Public domain.

Eternal Rest

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. Amen.

May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Traditional Catholic prayer. Public domain.

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With thanks

With gratitude

Pallbearers
Michael O’Brien, Sean Walsh, Liam Walsh, Patrick Doyle, Kevin Doyle, Daniel Reilly
Readers
Kathleen O’Brien Walsh · Prayers of the Faithful: Nora and Claire Walsh
Music
Linden Falls Parish Choir

The O’Brien family thanks you for your prayers, your casseroles, and your company. Peggy would have wanted to feed you, so please join us.

Luncheon
The Hearth Room at Callahan’s, 14 Mill Street, Linden Falls, after the burial.

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Peggy laughing with her granddaughter at the kitchen table

Forever in our hearts

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.

Margaret “Peggy” O’Brien · May 2, 1941 – March 14, 2026