Margaret Mary Lowe

 Margaret Mary McLafferty Lowe, age 83, of Harrington Park, entered eternal rest on July 5^th, 2025. She was born in Manhattan in 1941 to Cecelia (O’Brien) and James McLafferty and lived the early part of her life in the Bronx in Parkchester before moving to Harrington Park, NJ in 1973.

Margaret will be deeply missed by her loving husband of 58 years, Stanley Lowe, and her children Regina, Russell, and Janet. Her memory will be cherished by her older brother and idol, Jim McLafferty, as well as her three sisters in-law Marilyn McLafferty, Iris Boyce, and Bernie Lowe. She will be lovingly remembered by her nieces and nephews – Maureen Rubino (Dave), Eileen Hillenmeyer (Ted), Joe McLafferty, Jim McLafferty (Claire) and John McLafferty (Robin). Margaret also leaves behind her cherished grand-nieces and nephews – Sam and Grace Hillenmeyer and Ryan, Keiran, Sarah and Julia McLafferty. She will also be sadly missed by her dearest friend Marion Zeff. 

Margaret was preceded in death by her brother John “Mack” McLafferty, her brothers in-law Wendell Lowe and Thomas Boyce, and her sister in-law Kathleen McLafferty.

Margaret lived her life with such generosity and kindness that anyone she met loved her. She strongly believed in giving back to her community. In her younger years, she volunteered with the Sisters of the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity in lower Manhattan. She also worked with the Chaplaincy at Bellevue Hospital. In Harrington Park, she became involved with the Catholic Daughters of America, the Home and School Association and the Junior Women’s club. She was a beloved Girl Scout troop Leader and rose to become a Service Unit Chairman. She was on the mailing list for almost every Veterans and Animal charity group and tried to give a little to everyone.

Margaret loved to travel and spread that wanderlust to her children. One of the highlights of her life was traveling through Europe for 3 months in her twenties. Over the years, she made it to 26 countries, 23 US national parks, and every state in the US except Kansas. In her later years when traveling became harder, she just wanted to meet people from every nation. She loved having been able to visit her father’s hometown of Killybegs in Donegal, Ireland twice and was very proud of her Irish Heritage. Her adventurous spirit also took her up on two hot air balloons rides.

Margaret’s truest joy in life was being a Mother and making other people happy. She put everyone else’s needs and comfort ahead of herself for her entire life. Her family and friends always joked she could qualify for Sainthood. Her first miracle was surviving Stage 4 uterine cancer over 20 years ago when the doctors gave her a 3% chance of survival. Even her surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering had to admit that there was a higher power looking out for her. She faced both her cancer treatment and the seemingly endless health problems that ensued over her later years with such stoicism and grace. She left this world peacefully surrounded by her loving family with that same grace that she lived her life. The love and light she brought to everyone who met her will be forever missed. May she rest in peace.

Visiting hours are Friday, July 11, 2025 from 4-7 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 10 AM at Our Lady of Victories RC Church, Harrington Park, NJ with interment to follow at Tappan Cemetery, Tappan, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Margaret’s memory may be made to a charity of your choice.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com