Obituary of Margaret Mary MacDonald

Lake George: Margaret Mary MacDonald, 90, of Upper Hubbell Lane, passed away peacefully, Friday, June 2, 2017, at her home, where she resided since 1956. Born May 9, 1927 in New York City, she was the daughter of the late James Joseph and Margaret Mary (Quinn) Hanrahan. Margaret graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy in Schenectady, where she was the Class of 1944 Valedictorian. She was a “City Girl” who married a “Townie”, Raymond Marvin “Tink” MacDonald, and stayed forever. She loved the Lake and once upon a time, swam from the west side across to the east side. Margaret was a great stay at home Mom, with a strong attention to detail and no leftover chores for her five children. You know, it’s the big deep blue house with three sculptured stone window arches facing you as you ascend the I-87 entrance ramp at exit 22, also known to be at the thrill hill dip at the intersection of Middle Road and Hubbell Lane. A great house to grow up in, with the best tree house in the whole county right across the road and a fabulous closet of old clothes for the grandchildren and cousins dress up parties; dinner was always at six o’clock and everyone was invited on holidays because there was “plenty to go around.” Margaret allowed her children to be themselves, free to play outside anytime, make up our games inside, join after school activities, and pick the jobs of our choice; if problems surfaced she knew how to deal. She was known as “Peggy” early on, then as “Peg” during her working career at NYS Audit and Control in Albany, and eventually, inherited the family name as “Nanny”. On May 9th, Nanny celebrated her 90th birthday at home with a family party, Chinese dinner and Sherry’s famous cheesecake. The special gift of the day was a hardcover family photo album, now a forever keepsake. She had the ability to be stunning and elegant, creative, generous, imaginative at all times, well read, politically observant, strongly independent, and a movie buff with Downton Abbey and Law & Order at the top of her list. She is predeceased by her husband Raymond, son, Raymond MacDonald, Jr., and her siblings, William Francis Hanrahan, Joseph James Hanrahan, and Franklin Roosevelt Hanrahan. She is survived by her children, Pam (Bob) Morin, Matt (Pierrette) MacDonald, Sherry (Jeff) Adams, and Sean (Tracey) MacDonald; grandchildren, Sean Morin, Shana Graham, Chesney and Hunter MacDonald, Grace O’Neal, Joanna Ramirez, Martha and Rose MacDonald, Devani Adams, Batya Cruz, Arielle Wylie, Erin Wright, and Ian and Matt MacDonald; great-grandchildren, Brock and Reis Morin, Gabby, Lexi, and Trevor Graham, Nicholas O’Neal, Isaiah, Mathias, Danny, and Eliya Rameriz, Cale Childers, Siri Anderson, Julian and Devin Haynes, Indira, Rye, and Sedona Wylie, and Ronan Hill; nieces and nephews, “Mac” MacDonald, Tanya White, Frank Hanrahan, Jr., Dawn Marie Hanrahan Quinn, Kathleen Malizia, Heather Dolen, and Michael Wood. Special thanks to her daughter, Sherry Adams, Dr. Paul Bachman, and caregivers, Nancy Tracy, and DJ Sliter, Glens Falls Hospital ER, and Tower 3 staff for their professional and compassionate care. Big hugs go out to her 15 year steady bedside companion, “Jake”, an orange tabby cat who still rules the roost and knows the neighborhood. Burial will be conducted at 11 am, Saturday, June 10, 2017, in Evergreen Cemetery, Lake George. A memorial service will be scheduled for a date later this summer. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations in Margaret’s memory to the Lake George Emergency Squad, 24 Gage Hill Road, Lake George, NY 12845. Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online guestbook and condolences.