Margaret Ball — Rochester

The funeral Mass for Margaret (Peggy) Ball will be on Friday, July 19, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church with the Rev. Msgr. Gerald Mahon officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Osage Cemetery in Osage, Iowa.

Margaret died on July 13, 2013, at Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth. She was born on Sept. 18, 1926, in Osage, Iowa, the daughter of Margaret and James J. Ball. The family moved to Rochester in 1938 and have lived here ever since.

Peggy attended St. John's Grade and Junior High School, and graduated from Lourdes High School in 1945. After graduation, she worked as a secretary for various local agencies, including 13 years at the O & O Sporting Goods and 28 years as secretary to the Superintendent of Parks & Recreation, later promoted to a director of the recreation division. She also owned and operated a small rental complex in the Mayo Park area.

There are no immediate survivors except for a number of near and dear special friends: Martha Towey, Fred and Rosanne Fibeger family, Jean and the late Art Osman family, Margaret Herman and Jay Fox.

She loved and enjoyed all animals, especially her beloved kitty, "Chub McGwire." She also enjoyed watching sports, especially hockey and football, traveling, reading and knitting.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: Mercy Home, 1140 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60607; the Church of St. John The Evangelist; and Paws & Claws Humane Society in Rochester.

Macken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.