Obituary of Margaret M. Cooney

Margaret Mary ("Peggy") Cooney passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 3 after a brief illness. She is survived by her two nephews, Nigel Cooney of Chicago and Brendan Cooney of Joplin, Missouri; her two nieces, Caroline Exell and Sarah Exell of West Sussex, England; and her sister-in-law Sharon Cooney of Joplin. She was preceded in death by her father James Cooney and mother Kathleen Cooney (Hoye) of Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath, Ireland; brother Michael Cooney of Co. Tipperary, Ireland; sister Nancy Exell of West Sussex; and brother Barney Cooney of Joplin. Peggy was born July 31, 1930, in Castlebellingham, Co. Louth, Ireland and grew up in the town of Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath. After finishing her education at the national school in Tuam, Co. Galway, Ireland, Peggy moved to England and worked as a nurse in Coventry City. She returned to Ireland and worked as a nanny to a family in Dundalk, Co. Louth for eight years. Peggy moved to the United States in 1960 and settled in New York, working as a nanny for many decades to families in Manhattan and the surrounding area. Since 1978, Peggy had lived in Astoria, Queens, though she returned to Dunshaughlin every year to visit friends and family. Peggy was a passionate advocate for Irish political causes and volunteered with NORAID, the Irish Northern Aid Committee, and raised money for the Irish American Defense Fund. Peggy will be deeply missed by her surviving family, her many friends at the New York Irish Center, and the adults she helped raise as children and the lifelong connections she made through her work. Peggy was kind, loving, and fiercely strong willed in everything she did. She loved Ireland and she loved the many people whose lives she touched. Arrangements in the United States are under the direction of Edward D. Lynch Funeral Home in Sunnyside, Queens. Arrangements in Ireland are under the direction of McEntaggart Funeral Directors in Dunshaughlin. Peggy will be laid to rest alongside her mother and father in the Dunshaughlin parish cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, June 13 from 4-8PM at Edward D. Lynch Funeral Home, Inc, 43-07 Queens Boulevard, Sunnyside, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Peggy's Memory to the New York Irish Center.