Margaret M. Ducey

WILLIAMSTOWN – Margaret M. “Peg” Ducey, 90, of Pleasant Street passed away on Sunday, September 17, 2023, peacefully at her home with her family at her bedside.

Born on December 30, 1932, at Barre City Hospital, Barre, Vermont. She was the daughter of George and Margaret M. Sawyer. She attended local elementary schools and graduated from Spaulding High School in Barre. After graduation, she was accepted into the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing where she excelled earning herself a nursing degree.

On August 29, 1953, she married Francis (Lenny) Ducey in Boston, Massachusetts. They made their home in Foxborough and later Quincy, Massachusetts before moving back to her home state of Vermont in 1982. In December 1989, after 36 years of marriage the love of her life was called home.

Peg was a Registered Nurse and worked in the Emergency Departments of Massachusetts General Hospital, Quincy City Hospital and retired from Central Vermont Medical Center. After retirement she returned to her passion of nursing to care for patients at Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center. In addition to her career in nursing she was known to many as the neighborhood caregiver taking care of kids who crashed on their bikes, fell off swings, swallowed marbles and got hit by baseballs, all without a flinch like Florence Nightingale.

She was an avid bingo player which later led to her hosting the weekly “Pleasant Street Ducey Bingo” which turned her home into a bingo hall each Sunday for family and friends. She enjoyed travelling to casinos to play her favorite interactive slot machines, playing Gin rummy with family, and relaxing while sipping her instant coffee playing solitaire with her beloved dog Suzie.

Peg loved the holidays, especially Thanksgiving where there was often standing room only. However, nothing compared to her ultimate favorite holiday, Christmas which started the day after Thanksgiving. She quickly turned her home into nothing short of The Christmas Tree Shoppe with all her trains, houses, animated characters that sang, danced, and told stories. Her pride and joy were her “village” that was proudly displayed in the dining room for all the kids to see.

Survivors include her children Katherine Bingham, Laura Ducey, Michael Ducey (Amy), James Ducey (Joann), David Ducey (Nicolet), Elizabeth Lewis (Jamie), and Jennifer Ducey; eighteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband Francis L. Ducey and her grandson Richard Molina.

The graveside service to honor and celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 1:00 PM in the Wilson Cemetery in Lower Websterville. There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641 with a note that the donation is being made in Peg’s memory.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice nursing staff and to our sister Laura who provided around the clock care for Mom so she could remain at home.