Obituary of Margaret D. Otchy

MARGARET DUKE OTCHY, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, of Hackensack passed away peacefully on Monday, December 31, 2012, at the age of 95. Margaret devoted her life to her family, community, and church. In 1952 Margaret joined Court Rosemary, Catholic Daughters of America, and served twice as Grand Regent. She chaired Catholic Daughters of America's Apostolate for the aged for over 50 years, holding monthly parties at the Hudson County for the Aged. In the early 1950s she was instrumental in founding one of the first Catholic School Libraries in the State of New Jersey at Holy Family, Union City. As her children were growing up, she was active in both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in Holy Trinity Parish, Hackensack, where she was a parishioner. In 1962, Margaret joined the Columbiettes, the women's auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus Trinity Council # 747 and served as President for two years from 1967 and 1968. In 1971, Margaret, wrote, directed, and produced the first parish variety show in Holy Trinity, Hackensack. In between her numerous fund raising activities, for the American Cancer Society, schools, church, and her organizations, Margaret became Chairwomen of the Blind Transcription Program, typing books for the blind. She volunteered for many years as a driver for the blind, taking them to various activities. Margaret ran a continuous clothing drive from her home on Anderson Street, where she shipped boxes to missions all over the country, at her own expense. She worked tirelessly for the poor first in a soup kitchen run by the Montfort Missionaries in Jamaica, Queens, then in a homeless shelter with the Holy Trinity's Social Concerns group.Margaret worked as a travel agent at Advanced Tours and later with Gateway Travel in Fairview, which afforded her the opportunity to travel to Europe and the South Pacific. In later years, as she began to slow down, she formed a sewing group, the "Speedy Needles" who made bed pads for cancer patients at Rosary Hill, Hawthorne, NY. She stayed active Pax Christi, the Catholic Peace Organization, joining in peace marches and demonstrations. Margaret was the beloved wife of the late Thomas A. Otchy, devoted mother of Thomas G. Otchy and wife Nancy of Fanwood, Margaret "Meg" Otchy of Hackensack, John C. Otchy and wife Laura of Maplewood, Mary Malagiere and husband Thomas of Toms River, Matthew J. Otchy and wife Joanne of Bogota, Dr. Daniel P. Otchy and wife Kathleen of Fairfax, Virginia, Nancy T. Ciccolella and husband Donald of Ogdensberg, and the late Chip Otchy and Rev. Timothy G. Otchy of the Montfort Missionaries. She was the cherished grandmother of 19 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Dearest sister of Anna Marie Pallett of Osprey, Florida, Regina DeCell of Levittown, Pennsylvania, and the late Bernice Rizzo, Gilbert Duke and Walter Duke.The funeral on Friday, January 4th at 9:45 AM from the funeral home. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM at Holy Trinity R. C. Church, 34 Maple Avenue, Hackensack with burial following at St. Joseph's Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Memorial donations to the Montfort Missionaries, 101-18 104th St., Ozone Park, NY 11416.