Peggy Dougal, 97, of Huntley, formerly of Arranmore Island, County Donegal, Ireland, died peacefully, December 6, 2024.
Born September 20, 1927 the daughter of Charles and Bridget Gallagher . On May 12, 1956 she married Robert Dougal. Peggy trained as a nurse in England and Scotland and worked later in the United States and Ireland. She was devoted to her family and her faith. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend who will be missed by all who knew her.
Peggy is survived by her children, Coleen (Tom) McDonnell, Margaret Bakazan, Rosemary Dougal, and Brian (Patricia) Dougal, nineteen grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren, her brother, Tony (Cathy) Gallagher and by many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Robert, her daughters Kathleen Southerland and Maureen Stein, her siblings, Joseph, Owen, Charlie, Rose and Daniel and her grandchildren, Neal Thayer and Phillip Stein.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 from 4-8pm with a prayer service at 7:30pm https://www.facebook.com/defiorefuneral at DeFiore Funeral Home-10763 Dundee Road, Huntley. The burial will be Thursday at 11:30am at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind or Gigi’s Playhouse.
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Mrs Dougal was a close friend of our mother, Theresa and lived just down the street from our home . She was a kind and lovely woman and we will miss her. My mother and I stayed at her home in Ireland for a few days . It was beautiful. Our prayers are with her family.
I want to start by saying it's impossible to sum up 97 years in a couple of minutes. But I think it would be correct to say that Mom had a free spirit, desiring some adventure on her journey. She came from poverty but it made her strong and courageous, outspoken and confident. At times she could be a little prideful, but for the most part she had a well formed conscience, and she set good examples for her children. Coming from poverty, she grew to desire material goods, but God was always in the forefront. Born in 1927, her parents named her Peggy after her maternal grandmother. But when she was baptized she was given the name Margaret Mary after the Saint. (On a sidenote, this would cause her problems later in life when she had one name on some documents and the other name on other documents. There came a time when she had to prove that the two names were one and the same person. After that, she kept all her documents under the name of Peggy.) Mom grew up on a farm with her five siblings on Arranmore Island, off the northwest coast of County Donegal, Ireland. There was one more brother Daniel, but he died as an infant. The family grew their own crops and raised animals and her dad also fished in the sea. But times were hard, and when she was only 2 years old, around 1929, her dad went to America for 9 years to work and send money home to help support the family. Peggy had humble roots and would walk 2 miles down the mountain, barefoot to school every day. Every child had to bring a sod of turf for the open fire in the classroom. Living in Ireland, everyone received a free Catholic education and their Sacraments. Her Confirmation name was Angela. When mom was about 12 years old, she went with others to Scotland to pick potatoes and send the money home to the family. During World War II, she worked in hospitals in England during the blackouts, and experienced caring for patients when there was a tuberculosis epidemic. Eventually Mom trained and became a qualified nurse in Scotland. During her training she experienced the heartbreaking loss of her oldest brother Joe who was electrocuted while working in Wales. But she persevered and made it through, and then had a dream to go to America. Mom left Ireland in 1954 and was on a ship for 5 days across the ocean before she landed in New York, where she stayed for a short time with her uncle Anthony and his wife. I remember she said she was in the Statue of Liberty and that five people could fit in one finger of the statue. Then she moved on to Chicago, staying with her aunt Kitty, and got a job as a nurse in one of the hospitals. She had a very strong faith and after working on a Sunday she told her supervisor that she would not be working the following Sunday because she had to get to Mass. The supervisor would not give her permission to take the day off so Peggy said she would quit. And when her boss told her she would not be able to give her a good résumé, Peggy responded that the only résumé she needed was the one that will get her into heaven! So she did quit and she soon got hired in another hospital. She was definitely a fearless and feisty Irish woman. In those days, the men and women were always going dancing and that's where she met her husband Robert. He was a carpenter who had also been a sergeant in the army, during World War II. He had made some records with some friends, while in the service, usually writing the lyrics. She loved music and dancing, but she was notorious for singing off key. They got married in 1956 and had five daughters and finally one son. They never had much money, so the family of eight lived in a two bedroom rented apartment, but there was always enough to eat, and God provided for all six kids to attend Catholic grammar school. Mom was happy that there were several other women from Ireland living nearby, so they became her good friends. One day we came home to find our parakeet called Pretty Pete dead in his birdcage. And when all the children cried with heartbreak, mom got out the gauze and placed it over the bird's beak and attempted to give him mouth to mouth resuscitation, while she also gave cardiac massage with her thumb. Sadly she couldn't revive him, but we all knew she did her best, so we had a funeral at the park and buried him. She was always there for us, caring for our cuts and scrapes, and later on advising us girls and consoling our broken hearts when we had boyfriend problems. Part of her had always missed her homeland and she dearly loved all of her family members so far away. Sadly, her dad passed away in Ireland unknownst to her because there was a postal strike and the letter didn't arrive for weeks. This made her determined to go home for a visit, so she saved her wages and and in 1969 took six kids to Ireland for a nine week vacation, after being away for 15 years. More trips followed. After dad suddenly died in 1979, from acute leukemia, and her big brother Owen in 1981, she moved back to Ireland in 1984, to care for her mother, Bridget, and it became her permanent home until 2018. Her mom passed away two years later. Peggy would frequently travel back-and-forth to the US to see all of her children and grandchildren. She loved decorating and redecorating her house, and she became very stylish with her clothing. She would never miss an opportunity to go shopping. She became a great gardener, and always remained faithful to the Lord. She was often the lector at Mass in Ireland, and was also a Eucharistic minister. Once she went on pilgrimage with some other women from the island to Medjugorje, and while there she experienced an apparition of St. Padre Pio. She had a great devotion to our blessed mother Mary and prayed the rosary daily. The next tragic heartbreak for her was when her daughter Kathy died after a car accident in 1999. They had always been very close. The next loss for her was the unimaginable death of her young grandson Philip. And I think it was in 2006 that her handsome young brother Charlie was diagnosed with cancer and passed away the following year. She never gave up hope and remained strong, through all kinds of trials, and deaths of so many loved ones. In 2018 she moved back to the United States where her son Brian took good care of her till the end of her life. She loved traveling and Brian took her along on many family vacations. During the pandemic, her only sister, Rose, passed away in Scotland, and she was heartbroken that she could not attend. In 2022, her first grandchild Neal Owen passed away unexpectedly. And finally earlier this year, her daughter Maureen passed away. She experienced the sadness of many more deaths of relatives and neighbors throughout her life. I don't think she ever imagined she would live to the age of 97, but I think she was very grateful to have experienced all that God provided for her, both the good times and the bad times. She knew that there would be no more tears in paradise. In the end, she handed her cares and crosses over to God and died peacefully at home. We will always love you and be grateful for all you did for us Mom. Please continue to pray for us. And rest in peace now until we meet in heaven. I will close with a Scripture, from the Second letter of St. Paul to Timothy, chapter 4 verses 7-8: I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.
Mrs Dougal was a close friend of our mother, Theresa and lived just down the street from our home . She was a kind and lovely woman and we will miss her. My mother and I stayed at her home in Ireland for a few days . It was beautiful. Our prayers are with her family.
TO COLEEN AND TOM AND ALL DOUGAL FAMILY REST IN PEACE PEGGY 🙏🙏🇨🇮☘️
Condolences to all the dougal family at this sad time your mother was one in a million such a kind gentle lady may she rest in peace
Sorry to hear of Peggy s passing,she was dearly loved by our family,and her passing has left a void.Thankfully we have beautiful memories of Peggy and we can smile when we think of her. We would like to send our condolences to you all,the loss of your mother is heartbreaking, she is now with her other loved ones,whom l am sure will be looking down and looking after you all.Godbless Grace and family
I would like to send our deepest sympathy to you all on the death of your mum. Rest in Peace Peggy you are fondly remembered by us all. 🙏🙏🙏
My deepest Condolences to Colleen & family. May her soul rest in peace 🙏
My deepest Condolences to Colleen & family. May her soul rest in peace 🙏
Condolences to all our cousins and their families on the passing of Our Dear Peggy.She was an indomitable lady with a wonderful sense of humour, who gave us extraordinary memories down through the years of laughter and love, she had the ability to turn mishaps into hilarious incident.Remember when herself and my Mum landed in Leabgarrow in a half decker? Peggy made her way home via the shoreline and up through the fields.That story was legendary in their home in Poolawaddy. Peggy you will be greatly missed, the memories of you forever in our hearts, God bless and RIP Dear Aunt.
We are all very sad to hear that our Auntie Peggy has departed her earthly realm and we will keep her and her family in our prayers as she continues her journey to meet her saviour face to face. Ar dheis Dé go Raibh a hAnam .
Peggy Dougal, our amazing friend and neighbour, forever in our thoughts and prayers, such a wonderful person you always had a wonderful smile and time for all, our thoughts and prayers are for you dear friend and for all your family it was a true pleasure to have known you Rip dear Peggy 🙏 we shall remember you always.