Margaret Moira “Peggy” Green passed away Monday, October 31, 2022 at her daughter’s home in Clear Lake, Washington at age 99. Peggy was born August 10, 1923 in Faribault, Minnesota, the daughter of Biagio and Jewl (Kennedy) Vello.
Peggy lived in Minnesota with her Mom and maternal grandparents, who Jewl took care of until their death. Then Peggy and her Mom moved to live with her Father’s family, on a farm north of Ione, WA. Peggy loved living on the farm, with a cat and a dog she adored and work horses that gave her adventures. In 1933 she and her mother moved to Tacoma, WA where she attended Aquinas Catholic Girls School. Here she missed the snow of winter, her family in Ione, but enjoyed the comradery of her classmates, going to the movies and other adventures. Later attended and graduated from Auburn Academy in 1941, where she made lifelong friends, especially Geneva Smith Green, her future sister in-law.
In January 1945, Peggy began her nursing training at White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles, California, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1948. She wanted to see an entirely different part of the country and made lifelong friends here, too, one of which was Alma Tikker.
She married Albert W. Green, Sr. on June 19, 1949 in Tacoma, WA. Albert took advantage of the G.I. Bill to complete his education at Walla Walla College. Peggy worked as a nurse in Walla Walla General Hospital, where their first child, Albert W. Green, Jr., was born. After Albert graduated from WWC, they back to the west side of the mountains, where Stanley and Sylvia were born.
Peggy worked in many areas of healthcare as an RN: private office, hospital, public health and as a school nurse. In the 60’s she went to U of W to get her BSRN. This was an especially challenging time, to be attending college and manage a home with 3 children and a husband who was gone a lot, with his heating and air conditioning business.
Albert’s work took them back to Eastern Washington to Spokane. Now the children were in and out of home while going to school and Peggy’s Mom, Jewl, moved in with them. Here she enjoyed working at Deaconess Hospital, in the Post Partum Ward. Later, Albert’s work moved all 3 of them to California, living and working in various cities. Peggy mostly did school nursing. They lived and helped with Stanley and his children for some of that time. When Granddaughter Sophie arrived, they returned to the northwest, residing in Skagit County. For the past 18 years, Peggy has resided with her daughter and son-in-law in Clear Lake, WA.
After her retirement, she volunteered for the Red Cross, NAMI, home health care, and the local genealogical association.
Peggy was a member of Bethany Covenant Church in Mount Vernon, WA, later transferring to Community Covenant Church in Clear Lake, WA where she enjoyed the ladies’ bible study group. She also enjoyed gardening, bird watching, knitting and reading. Even before retirement, she spent a great deal of time learning and refining her knowledge of genealogy, utilizing travel and then technology to hone her skills and knowledge of the family.
Peggy was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Albert W. Green, Sr. in July of 2001. She is survived by her two sons, Albert W. “Bill” Green, Jr. of Federal Way, WA and Stanley A. Green of College Place, WA; her daughter and son-in-law, Sylvia and John Matterand of Clear Lake, WA; five grandchildren, Nathaniel Green of Parkland, WA, Harley Green and his wife Adrienne of Chattanooga, TN, Jennifer Green of Santa Rosa, CA, Cedar Green of College Place, WA, and Sophie Matterand Frame and her husband Josh of Yakima, WA; six great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. at the Community Covenant Church, 12605 WA-9, Clear Lake, WA.
Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or NAMI of Skagit County 2222 Riverside Drive #403 Mount Vernon, WA 98273. Share memories of Peggy and sign the online guest register.
I will always be grateful for the time I spent with Grandma, listening to her many stories about her childhood on the farm in NE Washington, Catholic boarding school in Tacoma, being a nurse at White Memorial, visiting her father’s hometown in Italy, the stories she heard from her older family members, and so many more. I treasure my memories of birdwatching with her, bringing her a cup of coffee, watching Perry Mason, reading to her, learning to crochet (left handed) from her (and my aunt), her making me an open-faced peanut butter sandwich with warmed up canned fruit when I was a kid, and baking biscotti with her. I hope I age as gracefully as she did. I miss you Grandma.
Peggy was fun, fun, fun when I was around her. Yes, also smart and inquisitive and insightful and sharp. I remember spending a day with her in northern California while she was househunting. What an enjoyable day and she had so many smart things to say about the homes. The thing is, Peggy was good to be with no matter what you were doing.
She was simply a delight and although I had not seen her for a few years, I will miss her terribly. Good memories and true sadness remain with us, a testament to a wonderful person.
Oh, Peggy. You are missed. Thank you for those good memories.
My childhood memories of Peggy involved hiking, camping, swimming, and delicious meals. I remember having a stomachache as a girl, and Peggy gave me a tall glass of soda to drink–it worked! She must’ve realized I was dehydrated. I remember her as a fun, caring, smart woman, and she influenced my choice to become a nurse. I will always remember her with love and gratitude.
Peggy was “family” to Chuck and myself. Being in her company was a great joy. Her little giggle was music. She will be missed.
I will always remember her with that big smile on her face when ever she came into the office.
Mom is dearly missed. She was warm, friendly & a great listener. She had lovely stories of family & friends
We had lots of adventures camping, backpacking around Mt. Rainier, visiting parks & museums around Tacoma. Enjoyed trips to Alaska, California & other West Coast places, when I was a child.
Once she came to live with us, she & I took trips to Walla Walla area, a trip to Yakima & a 90th birthday trip to Victoria with our friend Charlene. Locally, visiting the tulip fields and driving around looking at Christmas lights.