How can 55 years of Friendship and 50 years of marriage to a unique lady be described in a few random thoughts?

Margaret Mary (Duffy) Rathbun was many thing to many people.

A grand daughter.

A first child to Charles Howard and Mary Elizabeth Duffy, born May 31st, 1942.

An older sister to Nancy and John Duffy and she liked to claim that she was the younger of the two girls.  Margaret and Nancy talked frequently on the phone and in person and could finish each other’s sentences.

Wife, lover, friend and husband trainer to Bob.

A Daughter-in-law to Betty and Lyle Rathbun.

A Loving (and sometimes nagging) mother to Jim and Mike.

A Mother-in-law to daughters Heather and Kelly.

A doting, loving and spoiling grandmother to grandchildren Ryan, Gage and Natalie.

Auntie to nephews and nieces.

A lifelong friend of many.

A cousin to hundreds.

She was devoutly religious, and a lifelong practicing Catholic.

Forgiving.

Funny and Adventurous outdoors woman.

Always opinionated and stubborn on occasion.

A Coworker and boss in her career as a microbiologist.

Cookie and Candy maker.

USC Football Fanatic (“Smoosh them”)

Manipulative Furniture Barterer

Jazz fan, or any excuse for a good party.

Pet lover.

Never Forgotten, Always Missed, Forever Loved

Vaya Con Dios



Rose and I will always have beautiful  and cherished memories of Margaret with heart felt love. She will  always be in our thoughts,  will be missed very much.

Margaret was my Big Bear friend.  Our houses were kitty-cornered from each other.  We met Margaret and Bob when they were coming up to do weed abatement while their dream house was still "on paper", and we watched it being slowly and lovingly built to completion.
Margaret enjoyed life so much whether we were yelling answers to the TV when Jeopardy was on, going through piles of catalogs that she had carried up from home, going to town to buy the place out, or just talking over a cup of tea (or beer/wine).    I quickly learned to never, ever interfere if there was a USC football game on, but it was ok to join in the cheering.
What really stands out for me is Margaret's absolute love for her family.  They were all her first priority.  Everything else fell into place after that including some wonderful family dinners.  
Margaret, I miss you and hope that you are playing Sudoku in Heaven.  Love, Melinda

Most favorite memory of my cousin, Margaret,  is when she and her husband, Bob, would come to the Sacramento Jazz Festival with her sister, Nancy, and husband, George .    And we all stayed on the Delta King Paddle Boat.   This was before the need for oxygen and she was able to get around Old Town quite easily.   Margaret loved jazz and was always ready to party.   Life of the party, as they say.  You always knew where she was from the sound of her voice.   Loud, not really,  but a presence, yes!   That was Margaret.   Loved that gal !      Bob Duffy

She was a wonderful, kind, loving, and funny woman. One memory in particular was in Alhambra on Garfield Ave.  It was a Saturday, our husbands were working on Bob & Marg’s house and it was a very warm day. Marg decided that we needed some cool-adult beverages so she brought out the hurricane glasses from O’Briens in New Orleans and prepared some hurricane cocktails to go into those glasses.  The hurricane is a variety of different kinds of rum, concentrated Hi-C fruit drink, and ice. Well, we drank those hurricanes all afternoon and into the evening and none of us were sober.  I recall my brother-in-law being unable to stand up because he said he couldn't feel his legs. Marg made sure we all had a place to sleep and she helped us feel better in the morning!!!! Love her like a sister. May she rest in peace......until we meet again on the other side.

OBITUARY

Margaret Mary Rathbun

May 31, 1942 – June 2, 2019

Draper Mortuary

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services