Margie Lillian Hays was born Margarida Freitas in New Bedford, MA on July 25, 1936 and passed away peacefully in her home on December 9, 2020 with family members around her. She was the daughter of Moizes Freitas and Matilda Antonio of Madeira, Portugal. Margie came to CA when she was 10 years old. After a short time in Northern California, her Portuguese family, with ties to commercial tuna fishing, settled in San Diego. As a child she studied piano for many years and was quite accomplished at reading music and playing classical pieces.
Shortly after graduating from Pt. Loma High School, Margie married John Hays in 1955. They started a family with the birth of their daughter in 1956 and then a son in 1964. As a homemaker, Margie was dedicated to her children, never missing dance recitals, baseball games, or any of their many other activities while growing up.
Margie was an avid seamstress and volunteered at Grossmont Hospital for many years as a “Pink Lady.” She loved sports, especially football. A bit of a tomboy, Margie could often be found playing ball in the street with the kids in her neighborhood well into her 70’s. She was competitive. She had a youthful personality and a quick wit.
In 1982 she went to work for a company that later became part of Bumble Bee Seafoods. Her last position there, before retirement in 2001, was as an importer. She loved this job and enjoyed interacting with clients and forming friendships all over the world during her 20-year career.
Family was everything to Margie and she was extremely proud of her Portuguese heritage. She was thrilled to become a grandmother at a young age and loved the opportunity to care for some of her grandchildren after retirement.
Margie is predeceased by her brother Arnold Freitas and survived by her sister Madeline Qualin, brother Salvador (Lucille) Freitas, companion Gerry Yaeger, daughter Deborah (Tony) Handal, son John (Cherie) Hays, grandchildren Janica (Eric), Nick, Amber, TJ (Kathy), Kelly (Felipe), Johnny, and Nicolette, great-grandchildren Nick, Kira, Audrey, Luke, Julia, and Alessandra, and many nieces and nephews.
Visit El Cajon Mortuary at www.dignitymemorial.com to share a memory of Margie or leave a message for the family. A memorial service will be held at a later date when we are able to safely gather and celebrate her life. To honor Margie, you may donate a tribute gift to Alzheimer’s San Diego at www.alzsd.org.
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