Margaret "Peggy" Day

Margaret L. Day, 83, passed away on October 7, 2023 at Brandywine Living in Bridgewater, NJ, surrounded by her loving family.

Margaret, affectionately known as Peggy,  was born on June 7, 1940 in Long Island City, New York to George Elder Day, Sr, (FDNY Captain) and Theresa Elizabeth Day (Homemaker).  In 1944 her family moved to the Upper East Side of Manhattan then moved to Staten Island in 1963.  Peggy lived in many places during her long life. In 1979 she lived in Warwick, Rhode Island, 1980 to New Jersey , living in Parsippany, Scotch Plains, , Metuchen, Edison , and Bridgewater.  

Peggy is pre-deceased by her older brother, George E. Day, Jr., and her sister, Theresa Johnson.  She is survived by her siblings, Edward Day, Monica Casertano, James "Jim" Day, Kathleen "Kathy" Palmieri, and Timothy Day,

Peggy was a devout Roman Catholic, being Baptized and receiving her communion and Confirmation at the Church of St. Monica in Manhattan.  " As the oldest daughter, Peggy took to heart her responsibility of the catechesis of her siblings; she was diligent in preparing her younger siblings to attend Mass each week.  She became a Godmother many times over and facilitated faith formation in this way.  She attended Mass every Sunday as long as possible in her life and received Anointing of the Sick in her end of life.  Her faith was a steady companion to her throughout her life."

Peggy graduated from Cathedral High School, Manhattan  in 1958. "Peggy was proud to have worked for sixty two years straight, directly out of high school, beginning at the chancery office of the Archdiocese of New York at St. Patrick's Cathedral."  She then worked for Harbison Walker, a company that made fire bricks for kilns.  In 1978, she began to work in the hospitality business as a meeting planner.  In the late 1980's, she co-founded a meeting planning company, INNovations, In 1992, she deployed the skills and contacts she had developed in hospitality to found her own planning company, Peggy Day Associated.  One hallmark of the high regard in which she was held in by her professional peers is her role as the chairperson for the New Jersey chapter of the Meeting Planners Association.  "Never one to stay idle; after retiring from running her own company, Peggy became a personal trainer at her local YMCA in Metuchen, New Jersey, sharing her passion for good health and physical fitness with her community including the younger generations."

Peggy was remarkably health conscious and into fitness, walking or jogging daily until into her late 70's.   "Beginning in retirement, Peggy embarked on cataloguing the miles she walked around her neighborhood and the local YMCA.  Finally after years of walking, on January 25, 2012, Peggy was feted at the YMCA in Metuchen winning an award for walking more than the circumference of the earth (25000 miles).  She was proud of this accomplishment, keeping the newspaper article documenting her triumph framed on the wall of her home throughout the rest of her life.  She remarked on this feat often to motivate her friends and colleagues at the YMCA when she was working as a trainer.  Her family often observed that the perseverence required to obtain this goal is typical of Peggy's admirable tenacity in life.  She would sometimes show off her collection of worn out sneakers as proof!"

Her legendary hospitality transcended the professional realm.  Her warmth and considerable talent for hosting get togethers at her home will be talked about in the family for years to come.  She was an Aunt to over sixty nieces and nephews including grands, and Godmother to many.  She set an example of hard work, hospitality, and faith that will hold influence long past this day.