Margaret Van Vessem

Born on June 24, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York, Margaret spent her teenage years in Plainview, New York, graduating from Plainview-Old Bethpage High School in 1977. She attended SUNY at Buffalo, where in October 1978 she met her best friend and future husband, Maxim. Their days were filled with playing foosball at Rootie’s Pump Room, sharing sub sandwiches at the Elli, and walking around Wilkeson Lake. They spent more time with each other than in classes or studying. Despite this, Margaret graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1981.

After a brief stint working for High Times magazine, she began her accounting career with Matthews Panariello, a private accounting firm in Paramus, New Jersey. During her time there, she passed the CPA exam and formed lifelong friendships with her colleagues.

Margaret and Maxim were married in June 1989 and soon moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, where Margaret opened her own CPA practice, building a thriving business in the Research Triangle Park area. She was active in her church, a member of the local government, a lecturer at NC State University, and an avid volleyball player.

After eight wonderful years in the RTP area, they moved to London, spending 15 of the next 20 years living there, traveling extensively and creating countless memories with each other and their family. Margaret and Maxim retired in 2018 to their paradise in Sarasota, Florida. Margaret was a talented and bright individual who also loved the simple pleasures in life, such as blueberry pancakes, floating in the Gulf of Mexico, and finishing the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle in under an hour.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 35 years, Maxim. She also leaves behind her siblings: Kathleen, Veronica, William, Thomas, Suzanne, Joseph, Brendan, James, Colleen, Maureen; brothers-in-law Paul and Ian; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends who will miss her dearly.

Visitation for Margaret will be held Thursday, November 21, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM at Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave, Sarasota, FL 34232. A funeral service will occur Friday, November 22, 2024 at 10:30 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 7900 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34241.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in her memory.

Margaret will be remembered for her love, compassion, bravery, and sharp sense of humor. She will forever remain in our hearts.

Truste my lief. Nigel, Ollie and I miss you.