Margaret Mary Cavanaugh

Margaret Bouchez Cavanaugh, a notable artist and mother, passed away April 17, 2008. Margaret was born June 14, 1928 in Detroit , Michigan , to Seraphin J. Bouchez and Malvina P. Bouchez (Cvengros). The family moved to Ohio , and by High School it was clear that Margarets talents and desire directed her to become an artist. She studied art at the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati , Ohio . After graduation in 1950, she returned to Detroit and began working for Detroit Stained Glass Works. Mary Ellen Irving, who worked there and was the daughter of the owners, convinced the company to hire Margaret and to produce windows of a more contemporary design. Thus, Margaret designed the windows for the Chapel as St. Johns Seminary in Plymouth . In 1957 she met Lawrence Larry Cavanaugh at a Catholic dance in Detroit and they married on Margarets 30th birthday in 1958. Margaret and Larry had four children, John, Robert Bob, Mary and Patrick. Once the youngest was in school, Margaret began designing and building stained glass again, this time as a freelance artist. She would go on to design furniture, baptismal fountains, interior renovations and anything else that related to the worship space. Tragically, in 1977 her oldest son John was killed in an accident. Margaret was able to find some solace in her work. She went on to receive over 100 commissions during her long career, including: St. Martin De Porres in Warren; St. Cyprian Church in Riverview; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Troy; Holy Cross Hospital Chapel in Detroit; St. Mary Catholic Church in Williamston; and St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic Church in Bloomfield Hills. Margaret received many accolades for her work and was asked to prepare the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit for the 1987 visit of Pope John Paul II. Margarets work was innovative and ground breaking, and closely linked to her faith and the liturgy. She once told an interviewer The sense of light and color in stained glass windows is reflective of the scriptures and I want worshippers to experience Gods presence which is a mystery. Margaret is preceded in death by her husband Larry and her son John. She leaves behind her children Bob, Mary and Patrick (Leah), her grandchildren Kaitlan, Delaney and Gordon, as well as her brother Russell and sister Irene. Visitation for Margaret will be Tuesday from 3-9 pm at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover at Common (12 Mile). She will be in state Wednesday, 9:00 am until time of Mass 9:30 am at St. Martin DePorres Catholic Church. The mass will be officiated by Rev. Bishop Hurley. Internment in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Allegen MI.