Obituary of Margaret Lenihan

Margaret Lenihan passed peacefully at age 97 on November 7th at Dominican Oaks in Santa Cruz. Her given name was Maggie. She was the blue-eyed, younger daughter of Patrick Lenihan, an Irish farmer, and Maggie Lenihan (nee Doyle). Her older sister was named Katie and their two brothers were called Patrick and Michael. Maggie's birth in 1912 was registered in the district of Ballyhaunis, Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland and she completed high school there in 1931. Maggie and Katie became Margaret and Catherine when they moved to the USA. Margaret had a long secretarial career in San Francisco with Pacific Telephone and was known as a stylish dresser. In 1955, Margaret became a naturalized US citizen. In 1957, she bought a house on Pacheco Street in San Francisco and lived there until 1989, when she moved to Dominican Oaks, which was just opening. Margaret did not marry. Catherine graduated from Sisters of Charity School of Nursing in Butte, Montana in 1937, served 4 years as a US Army nurse in WWII and eventually joined Margaret in San Francisco. Catherine passed in 1988, on her 80th birthday. Their last surviving brother, Michael, died in 1996, in Ireland. At Dominican Oaks, Margaret was a quiet and courteous neighbor who always subscribed to the San Francisco Chronicle and read it after breakfast. Mary Ann, Jennifer and Aryn from Lifespan deserve appreciation and recognition for years of outstanding service as Margaret's primary caregivers. Hospice of Santa Cruz also provided excellent care. Margaret has arranged for a substantial gift to Knock Parish in Mayo, Ireland to benefit people with disabilities who come on pilgrimage, especially those in wheelchairs. This Roman Catholic Marian shrine, located 8 miles from Margaret's birthplace, attracts one and a half million visitors during the 6-month summer season, second only to Lourdes, France. Volunteers provide refreshments and medical attention to infirm pilgrims, and some receive free accommodations for a week. Margaret also remembered other friends and charities, including Dominican Hospital. A memorial will take place Sunday, November 21st at 3:00 PM at Benito and Azzaro's Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga Street, Santa Cruz.