Margaret A. Pearce
Hearts are saddened, yet treasured memories evoked at the passing of Margaret A. Pearce, 89, on May 7, 2017. Born Margaretta Angelina Rachele, on December 8, 1927, to Italian immigrant parents Rosina and Salvatore Rachele, Margaret was one of eleven children who grew up in Helper, Utah. Margaret graduated from Carbon County High School in 1946, and attended the University of Utah her freshman year, where she was a member of Pi Gamma Chi. Teachers were needed during the efforts of WWII, so she began an early career in education at the age of 19.
Eventually, she married childhood “buddy” Frederick Edward Pearce of Aspen, Colorado, on Thanksgiving Day, 1955. The couple taught school in Telluride, Colorado for two years. They then moved briefly to Grand Junction, Kremmling, Frisco, and Breckenridge before settling in Aspen in 1963. She embraced her roles as wife, mother and caregiver throughout her life.
Margaret’s humble beginnings led her through a hard-working lifetime focused on family, close friends, vegetable gardening and homemaking. In addition, she worked as a bookkeeper at Conner Chevron, clerk at Berko Studio, customer service manager for the local Sears store, clothing salesperson for Terese David, house cleaning artist at the Christmas Inn and for various families in the community, and as a partner with her husband Fred, operating Pearce Signs from a studio and office located in their home on Main Street for over 35 years.
Always sports and activities-minded, Margaret was adept at marbles, a whiz on the tennis and basketball courts, a natural golfer, an astute baseball and softball player, a handy runner in football, a knowledgeable coach for girls basketball and a crafty fly-fishing enthusiast.
She was a member of St. Mary Parish in Aspen, and participated in activities associated with the church, such as preparation and serving for the annual St. Patrick’s Day dinner. Over the years, Margaret reached out to others in the neighborhood with small gifts from the hands and heart, such as a fresh tomato or zucchini from her harvest, or a jar of choke cherry jelly that spread deliciously over a slice of home-made bread from her oven.
She filled her later years tending to her garden, counting, from her Main Street perch, the skiers descending Little Nell, and talking with gracious visitors and passersby.
Margaret’s husband, Fred, preceded her in death on Wednesday, June 23, 2010. She is survived by two sons, Richard B. Pearce of Aspen, CO and Bernard D. Pearce of Ouray, CO, three step-grandchildren, Michelle Murphy, Amanda Ciccone and Stephen Davis, and six step-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by three brothers, Sam, Henry and Ray Rachele, one sister, Rosie Gillespie, plus numerous nieces and nephews.
A rosary is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 16, at St. Mary Catholic Church, followed by the funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. A graveside service follows at Red Butte Cemetery. A reception will be held in the church hall immediately afterwards.
In lieu of flowers, and to honor Margaret’s versatile, down-to-earth and people-oriented lifestyle, please consider making a contribution to Pathfinders, PO Box 11799, Aspen, CO 81612.
