GLOUCESTER: Miss Margaret R. Walen, 99, of Bellevue Avenue, died Wednesday afternoon, March 19, 2008 in the Seacoast Nursing & Retirement Center.
Born in Gloucester on January 14, 1909, she was the daughter of the late W. Ralph and Alice (Parsons) Walen. She was a graduate of the Gloucester High School class of 1927 and the former Lynn Burdett College.
Miss Walen was employed for 13 years as an office machine operator in the Bookkeeping Department at the former Cape Ann Manufacturing Company. She then worked in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Treasury – Division of Disbursement, Bureau of Accounts from 1941 to 1945. Upon her return to Gloucester, she became a clerk at the former Cape Ann National Bank where she stayed for 28 years, until her retirement in 1974.
Miss Walen was actively involved in the Community Church of East Gloucester, from her early years when the church was The Baptist Church, until her early 90’s. She taught Sunday School and sang in the choir, as well as a host of other activities.
A kind, honest person, and especially caring to her many nieces and nephews, she will be missed for her gentle ways. Her joy in life was keeping in contact with her family and friends with letters and cards. She was also grateful for the services of the Senior Care of Gloucester.
Among her many nieces and nephews, she is survived by her nieces and caregivers, Phyllis Chianciola and Sally Sandstrum, many grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. She was predeceased by five sisters, Margerie Coleman, Lollie Goodwin, Susan Phelan, Lucy Douglas and Sally Fenzel, and two brothers, Nestor and Sherman Walen.
Her funeral service will be held on Saturday morning in the Community Church of East Gloucester at 10:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. There are no visiting hours. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the Hospice of the North Shore, 10 Elm St., Danvers, MA 01923 or to the V.N.A. Care Network, 5 Federal Street, Danvers, MA 01930. Interment will be held in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.