Peggy "Margaret" Welker

In the late evening of December 12, 2017, Margaret (“Peggy”) Mary Welker (nee Delaney), aged 82, passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord. Born February 25, 1935, in Detroit, Michigan, to Nora (nee Duggan) and Michael Delaney, Peggy graduated from St. Gregory School, Detroit, in 1952. She follows her sister, Sarah (“Sally”) Bauerschmidt (Joe), and two brothers, Michael Joseph (”Joe”) Delaney (Betty) and Daniel (“Danny”) Francis Delaney (Sue) to our Lord’s dwelling place. Peggy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Thomas (“Tom”), to whom she pledged her troth on November 3, 1956. Their 58 year-long marriage was much blessed with five children: Mary Serecky (Steve), Jean Maissen (Benedikt); Carol Hollowell (Thomas), Thomas Welker (Nancy), and Rosanne Simeone (David); grandchildren Kerri Ohman (Westley), Cale, Brian Maissen (Anna), Stephanie, Sean, Megan, Lillian, and Caroline; great-grandson Graham; and many loving nieces and nephews. Mysteries delighted Peggy, and she could often be found reading (and re-reading) the novels of Agatha Christie and Sue Grafton. Well-thumbed paperback copies were neatly arranged in a bookcase, until it overflowed, and soon Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Kinsey Millhone began to inhabit every cabinet in the house. Her love of mysteries extended to jigsaw puzzles, and she passed this love to her children, who helped piece together thousand-piece puzzles every summer vacation, whether spent in cabins up North or hotels down South during our annual August trek to Florida. The Holy Spirit moved through his daughter Peggy, giving her talents to share, binding her family together with love. A masterful seamstress, baker, and cake decorator, Peggy wielded knitting needles and crochet hooks deftly. For years, she knit gorgeous, intricate sweaters for each daughter. Although the sweaters were intended as Christmas presents, she had to begin knitting in January to tailor and complete the masterpieces on time. Her ingenuity knew few bounds: making slippers out of washcloths meant the children could skate all over the kitchen, sometimes to her dismay, although perhaps it was a clever way to keep the floors polished. From Claddagh rings to brilliant storytelling skills, her love for all things Irish ran deep. Thoughtful and attentive, she comforted many with her compassionate advice. No matter the trouble, whether spiritual or physical, Peggy always offered her time to listen, and she was easy in the silences so necessary to anchor our faith in God’s wisdom. A devout Catholic, Peggy enriched the communities of her parishes. In her childhood she attended St. Gregory the Great parish. She and Tom raised their children within St. Robert’s parish, which ministers to the Redford and Livonia communities, and in her golden years, she attended St. Rita’s, which ministers to the Fenton and Holly communities. Immediately following visitation at 10:15 am, a memorial mass will be held Monday, December 18, 11:00 am, at St. Rita’s Catholic Church. A luncheon will follow the service. At a later date, Peggy’s remains will be interred with her husband’s at Great Lakes Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Holly.

Peggy "Margaret" Welker

February 25, 1935 - December 12, 2017