Margaret Rachel Hickey (McCurdy)

Bangor and Lubec - Margaret Rachel (McCurdy) Hickey, widow of James E. Hickey, passed away peacefully with her loving family at her side on Monday, September 26, 2016. She was born in St. Andrews, NB, November 26, 1921, the only daughter of Frederick and Margaret H. (Carten) McCurdy.

Peggy grew up and attended schools in St. Andrews. After graduation she went on to earn a Registered Nurse' s degree from Central Maine General Hospital in Lewiston, Maine, and returned to Calais to work in the hospital. It was during this time that she met her beloved husband, Jim Hickey.

Peggy and Jim began their happy marriage on September 25, 1948. As his work with the US Customs Agency took them from Calais to postings in Houlton and Lubec, she was the cornerstone of the family, maintaining a warm and loving home for him and their seven children. She was known for her talents as a cook, a baker, and a gardener. Her house was always the preferred gathering spot for family and friends.

She treasured learning, was a life-long avid reader, and instilled her high regard for education in her children. She shared with their father a deep devotion to the Catholic Church and a strong work ethic. As parents they created a model of honesty, integrity and the importance of a loving family for their children who in turn made them both so proud.

As responsibilities at home lessened, she returned to nursing and retired after an enjoyable and rewarding career as a State of Maine Public Health Nurse.

She also enjoyed being involved in community life and was a member of the Lubec Historical Society, The Garden Club, and was on the Boards of the Lubec Memorial Library and Lubec Medical Center to name but a few.

In later years she was able to enjoy traveling, especially a couple of jaunts to Ireland, and visiting with her children as they married and the family grew to include beloved sons and daughters-in-law, fifteen grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

It was at this time that she moved to Bangor where she enjoyed making many dear friends and receiving wonderful care from the staffs at both the Country Villa Retirement Home and the Sylvia Ross Home. She was especially comforted by her visits with Dr. Angela Gilladoga that allowed her to continue to receive Communion although no longer able to attend Mass.

Peggy is survived by her children and their families: Dr. William Hickey and Lauri Rich (Alice and Alfredo Salvo, Will Hickey), Mary Margaret and Michael O'Brien (James, Kristina and Molly O'Brien, Margaret and Jacob Wile), Patrick Hickey and Karen Roberts (Evie and Adam Belmonte, David and Sarah Hickey, Elizabeth Hickey), Timothy Hickey, Barbara and Michael Intondi (Michael Andrew, Joshua and Timothy Intondi), Elizabeth and Paul Higgins (Samuel and Meave Higgins) and Dean and Kathleen Hickey (Liam, Mary and Cathrine Hickey), as well as nieces and a nephew.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband James, her brothers Carten and Donald, other members of her large extended family, and numerous cherished friends.

The family would like to offer special thanks for the exceptional support and compassionate care given to our mother and our family by care-givers and staff from the Sylvia Ross Home, Aging Excellence and Hospice of Eastern Maine.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Kevin J. Martin 2 p.m. Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at Immaculate Conception R.C. Church, 31 Calais Ave, in Calais. Burial will follow at Calais Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Lubec Memorial Library, 35 Water St., Lubec, ME, 04652, or Hospice of Eastern Maine, PO BOX 931, Bangor, ME 04402-0931. Arrangements by Mays Funeral Home, Calais & Eastport.

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