Margaret Louise Gillingham

Known as a woman of dignity, Margaret was born February 1, 1917 in La Porte, Indiana, to the late William and Katherine (Bach) Fohey. The family moved to Ann Arbor when Margaret was a teenager, where she and her sister Catherine were known as the “Fohey girls." She was a long-time member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Ann Arbor. Margaret took great pride in working as the executive secretary to the many presidents and vice presidents at the University of Michigan; this was also her greatest passion.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Weston K. Gillingham, sister M. Catherine (Richard) Beissel, and brothers George, Clarence and Hobert Fohey.

While Margaret did not have children of her own, she was adored and will be sorely missed by her surviving nieces, Mary Catherine Beissel Van De Graaf (Richard Hile) of St. Clair Shores, Caroline (Fohey) Lee of Sarnia, Ontario, and nephews William (Stephanie) Fohey of Fenton and Michael Fohey of Clio; great-nephews Mark (Paula) Smith and Matthew (Sarah) Smith, and great-great-grand nieces Paige, Sophia, Maraina and Jorja. She is also survived by step-children, step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren, as well as her dearest friend, Mary Jacobsen of London, Ontario.

The family is very grateful to the nurses and staff of Glacier Hills Manor, where she lived for the past ten years, for the care and comfort they provided her during these past few months.

A funeral to celebrate Margaret’s life will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Muehlig Funeral Chapel, 403 South Fourth Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Burial will be at St. Thomas Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the charity of your choice.