Marguerite Mary Laird

Marguerite Mary McDonald Laird, 84, of Slingerlands, NY died Friday, August 8, 2014 with her devoted family by her side. While the pain of her loss is difficult to bear, her life was an example of compassion and love for those she left behind to follow.

Peggy was born March 25, 1930 in Westboro, MA to Arthur and Anna McDonald. She graduated from Westboro High School in 1947 and did her undergraduate studies at both Mount St. Mary College in Hooksett, NH and Worcester Business School in Worcester, MA. After college, Peggy served her country as a dedicated civilian employee of the Pentagon. While vacationing in Virginia Beach she fell in love with a Navy man, and married him on June 6, 1953 after he graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. She and the love of her life, Larry Harmon Laird, would be married for 57 years until his untimely death in 2010. Peggy embodied the proud tradition of a military wife moving around the country and abroad with two children in tow to wherever her husband was stationed while continuing to work in many positions in the medical field throughout his career. Peggy and Larry eventually retired and settled in Taylorville, IL and later moved to warmer weather in Southern Pines, NC. After Larry's passing, Peggy moved to Albany, NY to be closer to her family and lived at the Beverwyck retirement community where she met many friends who were very dear to her and were a comfort to her in the last years of her life.

In addition to her beloved husband Larry, she is preceded in death by her sisters, Virginia Cove and Louise Connair. She is survived by her two children, son Michael A. Laird and wife Sandi of Manassas, VA and her daughter Julia A. Murphy and husband Bill of Albany, NY; nine grandchildren, Meaghan Henderson and husband Martin, Andrea Laird and fiancé Bill Cole, Kailin Curtin and husband Jamey, Erin Biswas and husband Shouvik, Michael Murphy, Abbie Laird, Grace Noblet and husband Aaron, Devin Murphy, and Ethan Laird; three step-grandchildren, John Yackley and wife Melissa, Sarah Yackley-Ploeger and husband Jonathan, and Kevin Yackley; ten great-grandchildren, Julian, Lola, and August Henderson, Finian and Scarlett Curtin, Anjali and Shyla Biswas, Harper and Asher Yackley and Emma Ploeger; and her loyal canine companion Sophie.

Peggy had a vibrant personality that filled any room she walked in to. She possessed a stoic beauty that underneath revealed a true social butterfly. Peggy had the gift of making quick friends of complete strangers and making sure that everyone who touched her life felt important and loved. She maintained many friendships across the country, some for over 50 years, and it was not unusual for her to receive over 50 cards on her birthday. She was immensely proud of and devoted to her family always making sure that they did the right thing. She would often place "angels" on their shoulders to watch over them and she always made sure that she was there for the important milestones in their lives. Peggy had many passions in life that included traveling the high seas on cruises with Larry, the Boston Red Sox, the Miami Heat, the University of Notre Dame, playing bridge, entertaining which always included a "nice" salad and a glass of chardonnay. In fact, Peggy spent the last night of her life enjoying a "wonderful" glass of wine while being toasted by her family at her bedside and all around the country via social media. While her family grieves her loss, they are grateful that she was comfortable and surrounded by love at her passing and they especially want to thank the 4th floor staff at Albany Memorial Hospital for making that possible.

There will be a mass of Christian burial at All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas, VA with burial at Arlington National Cemetery where she will be joined with her beloved husband, Larry. Those wishing to remember Peggy in a special way may send contributions to either the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association, Class of '53 Project, 247 King George Street, Annapolis, MD 21402 or the Alliance for Catholic Education, c/o Terri Howells, 311 Visitation Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556.