Marguerite M. Kmiec

Loving aunt, grandaunt, great-grandaunt and great-great-grandaunt

Marguerite M. (O’Neil) Kmiec, 86, of Salem, NH, formerly of Methuen, died Sunday, May 14th at Greystone Farm. She was the beloved wife of 38 years to the late Chester A. Kmiec who died August 11, 1993.
Born and raised in the Pawtucketville section of Lowell, Massachusetts, August 25, 1930, a daughter of the late Timothy J. and the late Margaret (Ford) O’Neil, she attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School in the Class of 1947 where she also served as a Girl Officer and was a Majorette in the Lowell High School Band.
Marguerite was a former parishioner of the Parish of St. Rita in Lowell and a member of St. Rita’s Cadets. Most recently, she was a Eucharistic Minister at St. Monica’s Church in Methuen as well as a Sodality member. She also volunteered at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen working in the gift shop.
Following their marriage, Marguerite and her husband Chet moved to San Francisco where he practiced as an optometrist and she worked in a local jewelry store. Shortly thereafter, Marguerite was employed as an Accounts Manager with the California State Employees Credit Union from which she retired. They then moved to Carlsbad, CA and in May of 2000, she returned to the east coast to be nearer to her family.
Marguerite loved to sing and dance. Growing up, she was featured in many minstrel shows and then in various church shows throughout her adult life. She also loved ballroom dancing.
Marguerite is survived by her loving nieces and nephews Maureen Chester and her husband Andrew of Pelham, NH, Paula Good and her husband Jimmy of Chelmsford, MA, Bobbie Maniatis and her husband Bob of Dracut, MA, Karen Manning and her husband Bill of Londonderry, NH and Dennis O’Neil and his wife Ruthann of Lowell, MA; four grandnieces; one grandnephew; four great-grandnieces; one great-grandnephew; one great-great-grandnephew; and her longtime companion and dance partner Roland Chretien of Salisbury, MA.
She was also sister of the late Elizabeth (O’Neil) (Krowchun) Price, John J. “Scotty” O’Neil and Paul F. “Scotty” O’Neil.
In accordance with her wishes, there will be no calling hours. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Mass to be celebrated on Tuesday morning at ST. PATRICK CHURCH in Pelham at 10 o’clock. Her graveside committal will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery in Lowell. E-condolences/directions at www.pelhamfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make contributions in her memory to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, 735 Broadway, Lowell, MA 01854. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O'Donnell, Jr. (603) 635-3333.