Margaret “Peggy” Elizabeth (Barnwell) Hess died at her home in Santa Rosa on Dec. 24, 2006.
She was the wife of Hamilton Hess, mother of Frederick (Kathleen) Hess of Redding, Peter (Viviane) Hess of Berkeley, John (Chris) Hess of Elk Grove, Mary Hess of Berkeley; and grandmother of seven, Elizabeth, Daniel, Katrina, Margaret, Juliana, Michael and Robert. She is also survived by her brother, John Barnwell, of New Jersey.
She passed from this life enfolded in the loving presence of her entire family. Margaret was born in Oceanside, in 1924.
She received a B.A. in International Relations from U.C., Berkeley, in 1946, subsequently working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Married in 1951, Margaret and her husband spent several years in England while he was studying at Oxford University. After raising their family they spent two sabbatical years at Oxford and nine summers traveling and camping extensively in England, Scotland and France.
The last thirty-six years of Margaret”s life were spent in Santa Rosa and part-time residence at a family home at Cobb in Lake County. She served a term of presidency of the Mothers” Guild at Cardinal Newman High School, worked at the Catholic Worker kitchen, and sang for fifteen years in the Sonoma County Chorus. Music, gardening, and painting were major interests in her life. She also loved the ocean and backpacking in the mountains.
Family and friends will celebrate a funeral Mass at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5 at St. Rose Catholic Church in Santa Rosa, with reception following in the parish hall.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to Memorial Hospice, 821 Mendocino Ave., CA 95401, or a hospice of personal choice.
Arrangements by Santa Rosa Mortuary Eggen & Lance Chapel, 707-545-3747.
Please sign the guest book at www.record-bee.com.
(Published in the Record-Bee on Wednesday, January 3, 2007.)
