Margaret LaRocque

MARGARET MARY (CAVANAUGH) LaROCQUE “Mom” / “Mamma” / “G’Mamma” November 30, 1931 – December 28, 2023 Margaret was born in Methuen, MA on November 30, 1931 to Patrick James Cavanaugh (a WWI Veteran) and Ellen Jane “Helen” (Munn) Cavanaugh. She was raised on Oakland Avenue in Methuen with her three siblings, Patrick James (“Jimmy”), John (“Jack”), and her beloved little sister, Rita Louise. In 1938, her family suffered an immeasurable loss when her brother Jimmy unexpectedly passed away at the age of 14 after a baseball injury. Margaret has carried her love for him and shared her memories of him throughout her entire life. Some time after this loss, the family moved to the upper end of Oakland Avenue, hoping to alleviate some of the hurt. As the Cavanaugh family moved into their new home, 10-year-old Margaret was on her front lawn when a handsome 9-year-old boy rode his bike four houses down, parked at the curb, and said to her, “Are you moving in here? I’ve seen you in Church.” When she told him that she was, he said, “We can be friends.” For Margaret, it was love at first sight, and that love never ever dwindled. That boy’s name was George LaRocque, and this began the amazing story of their life together. Margaret attended school in Methuen, MA, at St. Monica’s Catholic Elementary School and St. Mary’s Catholic High School. One of her dearest memories was walking each and every day from her school, beginning as a young child, to “her little Gramma Munn’s house” on Annis Street in Methuen for a full hot meal at lunchtime before heading back to class. Margaret would also walk with her father each night after dinner to help ready her Grandma Cavanaugh for bed. After graduation, she then began her path toward becoming an educator. She earned her Teaching Certificate at Lowell State Teachers College in Massachusetts, and ultimately went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree at Rivier College in Nashua, NH. While they attended school, Margaret and George enjoyed many dates dancing at The Totem Pole and other local dance halls, and listening to the big bands at the Canobie Lake Ballroom. George never missed a week of sending Margaret a personal, handwritten letter during his four years at Springfield College. With their parents present, George finally proposed to Margaret at the Red Tavern in Methuen during a special dinner. Margaret and George married in early 1954 and began to grow their family. Between 1954 and 1962, they had six children; Charlene, George, Jr., Robert, Francis (who passed away shortly after birth), Michael, and Mary Ellen. During the early years of their marriage, Margaret and George, Sr. lived in Manchester, NH, where he worked as the YMCA Physical Director. Margaret was always so proud to recall that George was told upon being offered the position, that he was “built for the job!” She worked hard as a homemaker and caretaker as they raised their children. In time, they relocated to live in Waterbury, CT, where George, Sr. worked for several years as the YMCA Physical Director, and Camp Director at Camp Mataucha. Margaret continued to lovingly take care of their home and expanding family. Missing them, Margaret’s mother cut out and mailed them an advertisement for a job opening at the Nashua YMCA, hoping to bring them closer to home. Margaret was alone with all 5 little children in their Waterbury, CT, apartment while George was back in NH, interviewing for and securing the new job on the day Margaret & the kids survived a deadly tornado. It struck and did great damage to their neighborhood on May 24, 1962. George rushed back and made his way past emergency barriers and let nothing stop him from getting to his family to be sure they were all safe. Immediately thereafter, they relocated again, this time to live on Central Street in Hudson NH, their “favorite” home, where they stayed until 1979 when they moved to Burns Hill Road to have more space to help their eldest daughter, Charlene, and her two young sons after the sudden loss of Char’s husband, Jeff. (The Central Street home is still in the family today, having initially been sold to their son George, Jr., who sold recently to granddaughter, Becky.) In early 1968, the family purchased a new Station Wagon, and got a new puppy... and, soon after, found out there was another baby on the way! In early summer, just as the Camp season was kicking off, “along came Little JoJo” (Joanne), and the family was complete! Margaret remained a Hudson resident for the next 61 years. The family were long time Communicants of St. John’s The Evangelist Church in Hudson, where Margaret taught CCD classes. George, Sr. worked in Nashua, as the YMCA Physical Director, Aquatics Director, Camp Director, and eventually Associate Executive. The most notable of those titles was “Camp Director” ... During summer months, the family lived at YMCA Camp Sargent, a day camp for children and families, on Lake Naticook in Merrimack, NH. This continued each summer for 22 years and was a true family affair! The entire family partook in all positions of running Camp Sargent – except for Margaret, who generally supervised from the screen porch of their small cabin! Two adults, six kids, and a dog living in little more than 400 square feet of space for so many summers! Priceless time was spent out at Camp with family and the closest of friends. Looking back all these years later, we all understand how great we really had it! Margaret eventually began teaching full-time at St. John The Evangelist School in Hudson, NH, where she was proud to be their first Lay Teacher. After the school closed, she began teaching at Hudson Memorial School where she very much enjoyed her friendships with various teachers. After a 35-year career, she retired, but continued to work part time as a substitute teacher at Presentation of Mary Academy in Hudson, NH, for a short time. Her teaching career allowed her to be free in the summer for her children and growing family, which was of utmost importance to her. As Margaret and George’s children began to finish their college educations, marry, and have children of their own, the role of “Grandparents” came naturally to them. “Bump George” and “Mamma” adored each and every moment with each new grandchild. A more modest Margaret enjoyed attending church and work social outings with a more outgoing and gregarious George, relishing that others would often compliment her on his good looks and ask to steal a dance. One time, a flustered husband came to their table and asked George if he would please just dance with his wife so she would stop pestering him! Of course, being a one-woman man, George politely declined. After all, Margaret might have been just a hair over 5ft tall, and George, 6’2”, but like George always said with the most sincere love and respect, “Hey, she may be small, but she has a big thumb!” Margaret was his Forever Dance Partner. During October 1983, George, Sr. passed away unexpectedly while working at the Y. A few years later in July 1989, Margaret’s eldest daughter, Charlene, passed away after a brief illness. Despite those and other heart-wrenching events, Margaret always maintained her faith, grace, and strength. Leading by example, she showed her family how to overcome massive personal losses and carry on finding happiness and fulfillment within her large and ever-expanding family. She was gentle, kind-hearted, generous, caring, helpful, insightful, unselfish, and loving to her final day. She was a Mother and a Grandmother who never said no, and often offered before you could even ask. In her more recent history, Margaret attended Masses at St. Kathryn’s in Hudson, NH. When putting around town doing errands, she enjoyed being approached by countless former students, remembering each and every one, where they sat in the classroom, and their funny stories. She had a love of history, especially recounting FAMILY history. Margaret wouldn’t miss voting on Election Days in town, and loved to see who was coming and going. When not with family, her daytimes were filled with puzzles, crossword puzzles, getting her blood pressure up listening to Rush Limbaugh, scrolling through Facebook to monitor her grandchildren’s happenings, watching The Price Is Right, adding extra spaces and emojis in text messages to her family, and sipping Gingerale while wrapped up in a warm sweater and blanket, or in warmer weather, sitting in the sunshine on her front steps. In the evenings, after a round of phone calls to be sure everyone in the family was safe at home, she would get cozy in her flannel pajamas and bathrobe, make a cup of tea with a splash of milk, watch her favorite game shows, then switch over to her political show lineup to keep current on country and world events. She was a steadfast little Patriot. As much as she loved to be in her Burns Hill Road home (which she sold to her daughter, Joanne in ‘96, and returned to for a time in her later years to be cared for over winters and during Covid), and then her Chapin Street home (which she sold recently to granddaughter, Stephanie, as it had been Stephanie’s childhood home, and Mamma ALWAYS said that homes should never be sold outside of the family!), surrounded by all of her favorite things and sorting her papers, Margaret always loved to be out and about. She would save up her quarters, pick up her sister, Rita, and hot-foot it down toFoxwoods or Mohegan casinos. And she was ALWAYS looking forward to her next visit to York Beach in Maine. Over the years, many happy and contented hours were spent in her little beach chair in the sand under her striped umbrella, enjoying the sights and sounds of the ocean and her children and grandchildren during the day. Her favorite way to end a day at the beach was with a cup of hot fish chowder and onion rings, a ride to Nubble Lighthouse, and then back to her son, George, Jr., and daughter-in-law, Paula’s, beach cottage. One of Margaret’s favorite stories to recount was of an evening she was at a party with her husband, George, and a gentleman came up, talked a bit, and finally asked George, “Why do you have so many kids?” George answered without hesitation, “Because someday they’ll be there to take care of their mother.” And they were... to her last breath. There is no greater Legacy left by Margaret and George than their Family. They are: Daughter, Charlene (Sakellar) Boggis (*Mom’s favorite) (deceased 1989), and her husband, Jeffrey (deceased 1979) Grandson, Jason Sakellar, his wife, Melissa, and their children Abigail, Benjamin, and Jeffrey of Londonderry, NH Grandson, Matt Sakellar of Gorham, ME, and his son Solomon of Wilmington, VT Granddaughter, Jennifer (Boggis) Nigro, and her fiancé, Tyson Peltz of Manchester, NH Son, George LaRocque, Jr. (*Mom’s favorite), and his wife, Paula of Hudson, NH Granddaughter, Katy LaRocque, her husband, Paul Berger, and their daughter Britten of Epsom, NH Granddaughter, Jane (LaRocque) Hoppe, her husband, Steve, and their children Thomas, Robert, and Jack of Hanover, MA Grandson, Robert LaRocque, his wife, Melissa, and their children Alton and Evelyn of Auburn, NH Son, Robert LaRocque (*Mom’s favorite), and his wife, Colleen of Bradenton, FL Grandson, Brendan LaRocque, and his wife, Jessica Thompson of Goffstown, NH Grandson, Ryan LaRocque of Nashua, NH Granddaughter, Meredith LaRocque, and her boyfriend, Christopher Larochelle of Bedford, NH Son, Michael LaRocque (*Mom’s favorite), and his wife, Sue of Nashua, NH Granddaughter, Andrea LaRocque of Hollis, NH Grandson, James LaRocque of Nashua, NH Granddaughter, Michelle Schofield, her husband, Tyler, and their Baby Boy due May 22, 2024 of Merrimack, NH Granddaughter, Christine LaRocque of Laguna Niguel, CA Daughter, Mary Ellen “Muffin” Szuksta (*Mom’s favorite) of Londonderry, NH Grandson, Scott Szuksta, his wife, Haley, and their children Graham and Georgia of Concord, NH Grandson, Brian Szuksta, and his fiancé, Arielle Lasoff of Canton, MA Granddaughter, Stephanie Varela, her husband, James “Bill”, and their children Peyton and Crew of Hudson, NH Daughter, Joanne Radziewicz (*Mom’s favorite), and her husband, Pete of Hudson, NH Granddaughter, Becky Radziewicz, her husband, Charles, and their children Lilianna “Little Lili” Margaret, Cavan Patrick, and Louise Cecelia of Hudson, NH Grandson, Peter Radziewicz, Jr., his wife, Kirstin, and their son Soren and Baby Girl due April 15, 2024 of Manchester, NH Granddaughter, Megan Radziewicz, and her boyfriend, Sergei Leary of Hudson, NH Mamma once asked at a family gathering “How could 1+1 equal so many people?” 7 children, 19 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and more on the way... Margaret is survived by her sister-in-law, Rachel Cavanaugh (wife of Jack) of Salem, NH, brother-in-law, Charles LaRocque of Methuen, MA, and three nieces and a nephew. It’s hard to imagine how someone so small can take up so much space in our lives and hearts. Mom, Mamma, G’Mamma – You really are, and will always be, the heart of our family, and are so deeply loved and missed. Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, January 4th at 11am in St. Kathryn Church, 4 Dracut Road in Hudson. All are asked to please meet at church. Burial will be held in Elmwood Cemetery in Methuen, MA.