Margaret L. Montrone

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Margaret Lorraine Montrone, 97, on November 3, 2024 at Greenwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Wakefield. She was born in College Point, New York on April 29, 1927 and enjoyed a childhood surrounded by an enormous extended family, as well as her parents, Fred and Margaret, and her brother Jim. She met her husband Frank, at 18 when they both worked at Press Wireless in Times Square. They got married in April, 1949 and moved to Massapequa, New York to raise their family. The Montrones enjoyed many blissful years in Massapequa, playing croquet or parcheesi and rearranging furniture, as Marge was known to do. Countless cars were always parked outside, and Marge was ready and happy to feed whoever showed up.

From there, the family moved upstate to Cornwall and then out to Colorado where they spent the next thirty years in Lakewood. Ever the matriarch, the family surrounded Marge wherever she lived, visiting for weeks at a time or popping over for a trip to “Paneros” Known almost universally as “Wawa”, her greatest achievement was the family she built.

Marge passed a civil service exam at the age of 17 which allowed her to work in the Naval Yard during World War II. She was an indoor messenger at Press Wireless, a school librarian, and a secretary at both State Farm and Geico. An avid storyteller, she loved to talk on the phone and would call you “just to check in”. Marge made the best eggplant parmesan there ever was or will be. She was Scotch-Irish and Swiss and it was important to her that you knew that. She was opinionated, strong, and funny. She could beat you at a game of spoons or rummikub, but not pictionary, she crocheted afghan blankets for every one of her children and grandchildren, and she loved New York more than any other place on this earth. She was a dancer and could do the steps to the Lindy Hop until the day she died.

She loved dogs of all kinds and cared for many dogs and grand-dogs throughout her life. She had a soft spot for toy-poodles (and was terrified of cats). We know Gigi, Bridget, Meggy and Missy were all waiting at Rainbow Bridge for her.

She was our family’s north star, and constant guidepost. We are devastated, but comforted to know that she has been reunited with her husband Frank, her son Tom, and daughter Mary. They are probably playing a game of croquet and are overjoyed to see Marge.

Services will be private with the family later this month, and in lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Guide Dog Foundation in Marge’s name. (LINK BELOW)

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