A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Mt. Pulaski with Father Joseph Dondanville officiating.
A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the church prior to the service. Burial will be in the Mt. Pulaski Cemetery in Mt. Pulaski.
Margaret J. Pease was born on November 17, 1925, on a farm near Niantic, Illinois, the youngest of five children born to Louis J. and Rose J. Ervin Pease.
Growing up, Margaret enjoyed singing and tap dancing. In 1945 she married Donald Waddell. In 1966 she remarried to Earl Smith and in 1967 they moved to California and purchased a home in West Covina. Margaret secured work at the Wham-O Mfg. Co. where she filled the position of personal secretary to Arthur Melin and Richard Knerr, co-owners of the company. Wham-O was sold in 1982 and Margaret continued working for Arthur Melin and his brother, Tom Melin, until she retired in 1990. Earl and Margaret lived in Whittier and La Mirada before moving to Hemet, Ca. in 1988. Earl and Margaret enjoyed singing together and entertained seniors at various convalescent and assisted living facilities. They loved camping and traveling in their motor home.
Earl fought prostate cancer for 11 years and was lovingly cared for by Margaret until his death in 2003. When the Lord closes a door, he opens a window. Margaret met Edward Vincent at a Hospice Support Group. They soon found their life styles had paralleled and felt the Lord’s hand in their meeting. They were married on November 12, 2005.
Margaret is preceded in death by three husbands, three sons: Michael, Francis, and Joseph Waddell, one brother: Charles Pease, and two sisters: Marie McGee and Lourine Hullinger.
She is survived by a sister: Cecelia Wessbecher, five nephews, four nieces, three step-children, seven step-grandchildren, and three step-great-grandchildren.
Margaret returned to Petersburg, Illinois, in 2019 to be closer to family. She entered H & J Vonderlieth Living Center in November 2023.
Memorials may be made to St. Thomas Aquanis Church or Alzheimer’s Association.
Peasley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.