Margaret Philomena Howard

Margaret Philomena Howard, age 85, passed away peacefully at home in Huntington Beach, California on Wednesday September 19, 2018. Margaret was born in Dunaff, Urris, Donegal, Ireland on December 27, 1932. Margaret was one of twelve brothers and sisters born to her mother Rose Kerrigan and father Dominic Davis Doherty. Margaret finished her grammar school education at the age of 12, leaving Dunaff to work with her sisters and Aunt in the the sewing factories of Buncrana. In 1953 her sister Kitty sent her a letter from New York City with $500 to purchase a plane ticket to join her in America. Margaret landed in La Guardia in August 1953 with not much more than the heavy overcoat she wore and a small suitcase. In New York, Margaret settled into the work of nanny for Happy Rockefeller and her children. Margaret enjoyed her years with Kitty in New York, traveling up and down the East Coast Seaboard to the many Rockefeller homes. In 1957 Margaret headed West to California at the request of her brother Barney, in order to help raise their two younger brothers Dominick and Hubert. Once in Los Angeles, Margaret quickly landed a job as telephone operator at General Telephone Company. With support from her brothers Frank and Barney she was able to secure an apartment in Inglewood to house herself, Dominick and Hubert. Years later Margaret would fondly recall those days and the warm afternoons she spent with Dominick at Hollywood Park pretend betting nickels on the horses. In 1960 at an Irish Dance in Los Angeles, Margaret met a handsome brash young man from Cork, Mike Howard, who would become the love of her life. Six months later on August 27, 1960 they were married at Saint Kevin’s Church in Los Angeles, where afterwards they had a short honeymoon to see the swallows at San Juan Capistrano Mission. In late 1961, Margaret and Michael would have the first of their five children Martin Dominic, and in short succession thereafter they would have two more sons William Patrick on December 16, 1962, and Michael James on October 1, 1964. Then in June of 1966 Rosemarie Patricia was born followed soon after by Catherine Christina on May 2, 1968. Margaret’s children were her pride and joy. In these early years Margaret worked, like so many housewives of the era to build a family and attend to all their needs, she was short order cook, seamstress, driver, laundry clerk and night nurse, whatever the need, it was met. As her children grew and their needs changed Margaret went back to work as a sales clerk for JC Penny and later Mervyns. The clearance rack goods kept the family securely in the fashion of the day.

As her children married and grew into adulthood, Margaret became mentor and mother to so many. Her house always had a steady stream of family and friends stopping by or spending the night. Nothing brought her more joy than preparing a meal for family and friends. Later she would mentor the spouses of each of her children, Cindy, Khaimony, Rob and Erin and they would all become her confidants and partners in crime. But more than anything else Margaret relished her second motherhood, that of caring for and helping to raise her eleven Grandchildren. Granny as she was affectionately known, never felt more comfortable than with a grandchild in her arms or on a stroll at breakneck pace, grandchild swaddled, surrendering to a nap. On February 6, 2006, Margaret lost her love, her partner of 46 years. Mike’s passing was painful for Margaret and it took many months until she managed to be herself again. Thankfully her children and especially her grandchildren gave her spirit a lift and the remedy for her grief.

In her later years Margaret had the good fortune to travel back to her beloved home in Ireland. These trips gave her great joy and were the source of countless memories. For Ireland and Donegal never left Margaret's memory it buoyed her in the toughest of times and provided great joy when she called upon the stories of old. Margaret never really left Ireland, she only stayed here for a while. She will be missed greatly by her family and friends and most of all by those amazing grandchildren she cherished so much.

Margaret is survived by her three sons Martin (Cynthia), William (Khaimony), Michael (Erin) and her two daughters Rosmarie and Catherine (Robert), her 11 grandchildren, Caitlin, Michael, Liam, McKenna, Griffin, Quinn, Cuchullian, Seamus, Fionn, Josephine and Landon. Her two brothers George (Shawneen), Hubert (Ruth), her sister Bridie and all of her nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Michael Joseph, her parents Rose and Dominick, her brothers Mickey, Barney, Frank, Joseph and Dominick, and her sisters Kitty, Mary Alice, and Rosie.