Margaret Mary McGaffigan, 94, passed away peacefully at her home on October 26, 2015. She
had been a resident of Tustin since 1969.
Peggy, as she was known to her friends, was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 29, 1921.
She graduated from Hyde Park High School and went on to work for the New England
Telephone Company.
She married Lt. Francis Daniel McGaffigan on April 22, 1946. Over the years, the family moved
more than 11 times due to frequent transfers with the Navy. They had been married 55 years. She
was preceded in death by her husband Frank and two of her sons, Peter and David.
An active, loving mother and homemaker and friend to many, Peggy kept a busy life and enjoyed
good health while always keeping up with the myriad of activities entailed by being the mother
of 4 sons and 4 daughters. This quickly transitioned into keeping up with not only her children
but her 15 grandchildren who lived close by and considered her home their home as well.
In retirement, Peggy was always interested in learning and she fearlessly jumped into the age of
technology. In order to keep track of all that was “going on” in the lives of her children and
grandchildren, Peggy sent out and received daily emails, photos, and text messages well into her
nineties.
Peg had an unwavering faith in God and was an active member of Holy Family Cathedral. She
will be remembered for her quiet humility, strong faith, and her love of God. It is this lifelong
love of God that always defined her to those she knew and loved.
Margaret is survived by her sister, Betsy Kelley of Maine; children Barbara (Daniel Bomgren),
Marie (Steve Tidball), Brenda McGaffigan (Donna Moore), Tim McGaffigan (Denice), Karen
Buckley, and Paul McGaffigan; her 15 grandchildren Rebecca (Alex) Estrada, Joseph Bomgren,
Rachel Bomgren, Michael Bomgren and Deborah (Christopher) Veitch, Meaghan (Jesse)
Gonsalves, Neil (Jill) Buckley, Matthew (Kris)Tidball, Adam Tidball, Brett Tidball, Riley
McGaffigan, Farren McGaffigan, Caley McGaffigan, Sean McGaffigan, Payton McGaffigan; and
her 10 great-grandchildren Isaac, Hannah, and Emma Estrada, Roman Bomgren, Hayden
Buckley, Braden and Brody Gonsalves, and Grace, Jack, and Bruce Tidball.
The family of Margaret M. McGaffigan wishes to thank Hospice Care of California as well as
her caregivers Rosie, Irma, and Thelma for their devoted and loving care of Peggy during her last
two years.
Services will be held at Holy Family Cathedral, 566 S. Glassell Ave., Orange, CA. on November
20 at 12:10 pm. A reception will follow the graveside burial. In lieu of flowers, donations may be
made to the Orange County Rescue Mission, 1 Hope Dr, Tustin, CA 92782.