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Peggy Joan (DeLong) Love, 85, of Lewistown, passed away peacefully at the Lewistown Hospital on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.
Born on May 9, 1939 in Lewistown to Curt and Florence "Flossie" (Hetrick) DeLong, she was also sister to the late Doris (DeLong) McCardle and aunt to Holly (McCardle) Bloch. Peggy was preceded in death by her husband, Frank "Doodle" Love whose life was taken in 1994. She was the beloved mother of Fredric Love, Laurel Love, Susan "Suzi" Love Bender, and the late Thomas Love. She was a cherished Mimi/Grammy to Fredric (Carrianne) Love, Benjamin Love, Brandon Love, Matthew Hass, Curtis Love, Connor Love, Tressie Bender, Cameron Love, and Luke Bender. She was also a Great-Grammy to Ruxin Love. Peggy adored watching her grandchildren play sports and was always a proud supporter.
Peggy graduated among the top students in her class from Lewistown Area High School in 1957. She attended Thompson Institute in Harrisburg and moved to Hanover after marrying the love of her life on April 12, 1958. Frank and Peggy eventually settled in Mount Union, where Peggy devoted herself to raising her family as a homemaker. Later in life, Peggy did clerical work at the Mount Union Dairy Queen Brazier, a family business. She also later worked at the Mount Union Library and the American Red Cross. After retirement, Peg moved back to her hometown of Lewistown to be near her children and grandchildren.
Peg found joy in the simple pleasures of life--drinking her coffee, planting flowers, browsing flea markets in search of a bargain, watching her soaps and Dancing with the Stars, listening to the oldies on her bluetooth headphones, painting paint-by-numbers, and crocheting. She was an unbeatable Scrabble and Words with Friends player, always quick to score big points, and her Candy Crush skills were legendary, so much so that she had to wait for new levels to be released. Peggy was known for her love of Crocs, pink flamingos, and her vibrant personality. She was dignified in old age by an unrelenting, inspiring & mystifying youthful exuberance. She was the brightest in the room - figuratively and literally, as she adored donning neon pinks & greens - and her quick-witted mind maintained a sharpness that rivaled her grandchildrens' even as her body grew frail in her later years. She never grew tired of watching sports, with Penn State, Notre Dame, and Steelers football and Pirates baseball among her favorites to cheer on.
Peggy's life was a testament to love, simplicity, and dedication. She will be remembered for her unwavering spirit, her love of family, and her ability to find joy in both the everyday and extraordinary moments. But Peg will perhaps be remembered most for her uncompromising strength in the face of life's most difficult adversities. Having lost both a husband and a son well before she ever thought she would, Peggy remained a champion and a beacon for her family, inspiring them to find joy, comfort, and fortitude in the simple and shared pleasures of life. Her family will do the same in honor of, and for, her.
Peg Love always was and always will be a Guiding Light for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all future generations of the Love extended family & friends. Her destiny as The Matriarch of Love has been fulfilled, but her story and image will live on - in the face of the stray cat we'll cross paths with on the side of the road, in the Christmas ornaments she gifted her loved ones throughout the years, and in the vibrant colors that make a harsh world just a little bit brighter.
Visitation for friends and family will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the King-Barr Funeral Home, 120 Logan Street, Lewistown, on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 with a short celebration service of Peggy's life to follow. Officiating is Pastor Chris Lutz.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Mount Union Community Library, 11 West Market Street, Mount Union, PA 17066. Online condolences can be sent at kingbarrfuneralhome.com.