Margaret Alice 'Maggie' Garvin -- Wabasha

Margaret Alice "Maggie" Garvin, age 51, of Wabasha, died Monday, April 24, 2017, at Mayo Clinic Hospital-Saint Marys Campus in Rochester with her loving family at her side after a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born May 15, 1965, in New Britain, Conn., the daughter of Salvatore and Kathleen (Daniels) Stillo. Her family moved to Jeffers, Minn., when she was 10 years old. She graduated from Storden-Jeffers High School in 1983 and then attended the University of Minnesota where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in costume and fashion design. She worked several years designing gift wear for the Lefton, Coca-Cola and Ganz companies. She later furthered her education at Winona State University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and she attained her Master's degree from St. Mary's University in Winona for literacy. Maggie was the K-8 reading specialist and taught Title One in the elementary school at Wabasha-Kellogg Schools from 2005-2015. She also taught reading at St. Felix Catholic School in Wabasha. She retired in 2015 because of her health.

She married Joseph Garvin on Aug.19, 1989, at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Fulda, Minn.

Maggie was a member of St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha. She had many interests and hobbies, among which were reading, crocheting, playing cards, watching movies, singing and enjoying her Yorkie terriers. She loved attending all of her daughters' sporting events and loved spending time together with them and Joe. Her love of teaching was very important to her as well.

Her pleasing and magnetic personality and infectious laugh will be remembered by all who knew her.

Maggie is survived by her loving husband, Joseph Girard Garvin, and their two daughters, Shannon Margaret Garvin (fiancé Cory Skibba) and Samantha Jo Garvin, of Wabasha; mother, Kathleen Stillo of St. Anthony, Minn.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary and Tom Barthman of Hudson, Wis., Nancy and Keith Kurkowski of Lamberton, Minn.; brother, David Stillo (special friend, Sue), of Sacred Heart, Minn.; nieces and nephews, Amanda and Andrew Felber, Cassandra, Michael and Joshua Stillo and Molly, Megan, and Abigail Kurkowski; aunts, uncles and cousins. She is also survived by Joe's family: mother, Mary Ann Garvin of Worthington, Minn.; sisters, Julie Garvin of Heron Lake, Minn., Jackie Garvin of Bailey, Colo.; brother and sister-in-law, James and Debra Garvin of Hutchinson, Minn., and their children, Daniel and Kaitie Garvin. Maggie is also survived by her very special and true friend, Connie LaRocque of Wabasha.

She was preceded in death by her father, Salvatore Stillo; infant brother, Joseph Stillo; and father-in-law, Donald Garvin.

A funeral Mass will be offered at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 29, at St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha, with the Rev. Father Gregory Parrott officiating. Interment will be at St. Felix Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Daniel Garvin, Andrew Felber, Robin and Nolan LaRocque, Paul Elskamp and Richard Hogan. Honorary bearer will be Cory Skibba.

Family and friends may call at the Abbott Funeral Home in Wabasha from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 28, with a prayer service at 8 p.m. and one hour before the Mass Saturday at the church.

Memorials are preferred to cholangiocarcinoma.org.

The Abbott Funeral Home of Wabasha is in charge of arrangements (www.abbottfh.com).