Peggy C. Cassano

Margaret "Peggy" C. Cassano, age 97, of South Wellfleet, MA, passed away peacefully on Friday February 2, 2024, surrounded by her loving children, and embraced in spirit by her entire family. Peggy was born on February 25, 1926, in Long Island City, NY to her loving parents Edward and Emily Cull. She and her parents were devoted to each other, and she cared for them both including moving her mother close to her after her father died in 1957. She married Louis J. Cassano in 1950, and they had 63 beautiful years together; they raised five children, who in turn enlarged the family circle to include sons- and daughters- in law, and six grandchildren who Peg and Lou dearly loved and who each held a special place in Peggy’s heart. Peg and Lou raised their family in Yorktown Heights, NY and had many rich and rewarding years of retirement in South Wellfleet, MA. They moved to South Wellfleet permanently in 1991 and they treasured being surrounded by the beauty, peace, and nature of the Cape. They shared their time there with dear friends, both old and new, and it became Cassano central for countless fun-filled family gatherings. After Lou died in 2013, Peggy, with the support of her family, lived life to the fullest! In late 2019, she moved to Shelton, CT to be closer to her family. This past year, Peggy lived at Brightview’s Wellspring Village where she made friends and was cared for and loved by an amazing and skilled staff. This special group became like family as they joined “Team Peggy”! While she successfully made her way and formed new friendships, Peggy never once stopped missing her home on the Cape.

Above all, Peggy was a beloved wife, mother, and Grannie. She was highly intelligent, graduating from Julia Richman High School in NY at age 16. After training at Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School, also in New York City, she became an Executive Secretary at IBM, and worked for IBM’s first female vice president. After leaving IBM to raise her family, she devoted herself to volunteer work and giving back to others including volunteering at the National Seashore in Provincetown, MA. Her primary interests were in nursing, and she contributed many hours as a volunteer at Northern Westchester hospital in Mt. Kisco, NY and later at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, MA. She was a life-long church volunteer, most recently at St. Mary’s of the Harbor in Provincetown, MA.

Peggy was also a life-long learner who was curious about everything. She particularly enjoyed the National Park Service ranger talks, learning about the natural world and she read the New York Times every day for as long as we can remember; she was always clipping newspaper articles of interest to share with her family. Peggy was an avid nature-lover, animal-lover, and traveler, inspiring her family constantly with her many interests and her zest for life. Peggy always lived life to the fullest, including pursuing exercise, walks, and spending quality time with friends and family. She had many wonderful friends over the years, who she cherished and held close to her heart - and who she enjoyed hosting, always the life of whatever party she was at! Peggy will be remembered as a caring, spunky, and trend-setting woman who was ahead of her time in many ways; be it embracing natural childbirth in the 1950s, exercise in the ‘60s, aerobics in the ‘70s, or yoga and Tai Chi in the ‘80s.

Peggy is survived by her five children and their partners: Maggie Cassano & Tom Way of Shelton CT, Pat Cassano & Ron Booker of Ithaca NY, Lou & Sue Cassano of Southbury, CT, Ed Cassano of South Wellfleet, MA and Rob & Lorraine Cassano of North Salem and Middletown, NY. She is also survived by her six grandchildren and their partners: Samantha Cassano & Matt Bihler, Kalila Booker-Cassano & Byron Perpetua, Louis J. Cassano, III, Rob Cassano & Susannah Fears, Tara Rose Cassano, and Andrew Cassano.

Calling hours are at Nickerson Funeral Home, Wellfleet, MA from 4 to 7 p.m. on February 9 and funeral services are at 10 a.m. on February 10th at St. Mary of the Harbor, Provincetown, MA followed by a private burial. In lieu of flowers, donations in Peggy's memory may be made to the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, https://coastalstudies.org/ or to St. Mary of the Harbor Church in Provincetown, https://www.stmaryoftheharbor.org/.