Margaret A. Dukeshire
...retired from Tewksbury Hospital; 65
NO. CHELMSFORD - Margaret A. (Ralls) Dukeshire, age 65, a retired long time employee of Tewksbury Hospital's administration staff, died Monday, August 8, 2011 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton, after a brief illness.
She was born in Lowell, August 31, 1945, a daughter of the late George A.and Margaret F. (Tucker) Ralls, and was raised in Lowell. She graduated from Lowell High School with the Class of 1963, and had maintained numerous friendships through her association with the "60's Chicks," a social group made up of women from her high school class. She also maintained numerous friendships with her membership in the Friday Night Bickford's Group, based at the Burlington Bickford's restaurant.
Margaret will be remembered as the best "Nana" ever to her two grandchildren Michelle and Michael.
While she lived in No Chelmsford she spent a great deal of her time during the last ten years with her friend and companion, Jeremiah "Jerry" Delaney of Tewksbury.
In 2001, she retired from the Tewksbury Hospital, where she had worked for over thirty five years, as Head Clerk in the Admissions Office.
She was a communicant of St. William's Parish in Tewksbury, and was among the founding members of the Billerica Irish-American Club. She was also known for her inability to pass by a garage sale without stopping.
She is survived by a daughter, Mary Gail Mugo of Tewksbury; two grandchildren, Michelle and Michael Mugo both of Tewksbury; four siblings, George A. Ralls Jr. and his wife Patricia (Perron) of Lowell, Thomas F. Ralls and his wife Joanne (Caunter) of Chelmsford, Catherine J. Burbank and her partner Richard Carey of Lowell, Eileen C. LeBlanc and her husband Ralph of Plymouth; numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends throughout the Merrimack Valley.
Visiting hours Wednesday, August 10, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home. Her Funeral Mass was held Thursday, August 11, in St. William's Church, Tewksbury. Burial followed in Tewksbury Cemetery. Memorials to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 811 W Evergreen Ave. Suite 303, Chicago, IL 60642 or visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org