Helen M McCann

Born January 11, 1928 in Hazelton, PA, Peggy was the ninth of ten children of the late Leonard Samuel and Concetta Mary (Magnelli) Leo of Harrisburg. Peggy married her late husband, Albert Patrick McCann on October 21, 1950. He preceded her in death on May 5, 1990.

She is survived by five children: Margaret McCann Shimp and Michael, Mifflintown; Pat McCann and Robin, of New Cumberland; Kate McCann Lingo and Drew, Florida; Maria McCann Brown, Harrisburg; and Maureen McCann, Harrisburg, and a beloved niece, Marijon Shearer, Hershey. She was the richly loved grandmother, also known as Mung, to twelve grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren. She was the loving Aunt Peg to numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Peggy was preceded in death by an infant son. Michael; her ten siblings and their spouses, Frank and Frances Leo, Anthony and Janet Leo, Alfred and Catherine Leo, Harrison and Catherine (Leo) Keiffer, Augustus and Julia (known as Dolly) Leo, Albert and Marie Leo, John and Mary (Leo) Shearer, Leonard and Grace Leo, Josephine Leo; sons-in-law, Arthur Brown and Vaughen Smith; and a grandson-in-law, Josh Myers.

Over her years, Peggy’s varied interests led her to diverse jobs and volunteerism including a docent at the Hershey Museum, a gymnastics judge (although this lasted one meet as she “didn’t want to mark down those hardworking girls”), and a fresh produce store owner with her sister, Mary (Leo) Shearer. She also worked at Lower Dauphin High School and for her brother, Alfred Leo. She enjoyed league bowling and tennis.

She carried on her mother’s (and possibly generations before) Christmas tradition of honey-soaked cookies her family called skaledas & dorditas. It was a great source of pride and satisfaction for her to preserve the family recipes and pass the technique to the next generations.

Peggy was an avid reader. Her book of choice- a cookbook. An Italian mother to the core, no one left her home without a full plate and a full heart. She had an intrinsic love of theater, making sure her children were immersed in music and dance. She loved the beach and spent as much time at her home in Rehoboth as possible. She was at peace sitting with her feet in the ocean.

Peggy was a mother and grandmother to many. Few people are lucky enough to get to know their great-grandchildren, but she was wholeheartedly present on any occasion. She attended generations of birthdays, graduations, weddings, and many other special occasions. She had the most peaceful, content disposition, as though the only thing that mattered was being in the moment for whoever needed her. She leaves us with a legacy of love and quiet strength.

Mr. Rogers said, “If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” Her strength, wisdom, and love have been gifts to everyone she touched. Nothing is eternal except love for our family. When we keep her in our hearts and pay forward all her beautiful ways, she will live forever in our memories.

The family asks that you not send flowers. Instead, please plant a tree or a rose bush or a pack of zinnia seeds. Nothing made Peggy happier than being surrounded by her family. In this saddest of times, we ask that you hold your loved ones close in her memory.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday January 31, 2024 at St Catherine Laboure Church 4000 Derry St Harrisburg PA 17111 from 9:30am-10:30am with a Mass of Christian Burial starting at 10:30am. Interment will follow at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.