Obituary for Margaret Mary O'Brien
Feisty, independent and fiercely proud of her Irish heritage, Margaret Mary O'Brien passed away on 24 Sept. at the age of 94 at the Arbors in Shelburne. Her nephews Alex and Peter were with her. She was born to John and Jane (Van Sickle) O'Brien on 5/24/27 in Burlington, VT and grew up here, attending Cathedral HS and Trinity College.
She always had an adventurous spirit and took flying lessons in her early twenties. Many years later after she retired, we tried to talk her into skydiving, but she said she was happy right where she was. Although she never married, there were two loves in her life - teaching and theater. She taught english and theater at Burlington HS for 28 years, retiring in 1990. Her interest in theater drew her to St. Michael's Playhouse as a college freshman, where she met and worked with Donald and Joanne Rathgeb. Over the years they made the Playhouse a nationally recognized Equity theater and worked with actors Bela Lugosi, Jon Voight, Henry Gibson, Kenneth Kimmins and many others.
After she retired from teaching, she packed her bags and moved to Ireland for a year. She took an apartment in Dublin and spent the next year touring the Emerald Isle meeting distant relatives, making friends and stopping by a pub or two.
In recent years, her health began to fail and she developed dementia. It was sad to see her faculties diminish over the last few months, but the spark in her eyes never left.
She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Jacqueline Smyle and brother-in-law Bernhardt. Margaret is survived by her nephews Alex and his wife Carmen; Peter; niece Christine Rostas and her husband John. She will also be missed very much by Jason, Hannah, Ethan, Sean, Jack & Susie.
Our heartfelt thanks to all of the excellent health care professionals at both the Arbors and the Gazebo for everything you did for Margaret. You all contributed greatly to the quality of her life and our family is grateful.
In keeping with Margaret's wishes, there will be no calling hours or formal services. A celebration of her life will be held later this fall.
She always had an adventurous spirit and took flying lessons in her early twenties. Many years later after she retired, we tried to talk her into skydiving, but she said she was happy right where she was. Although she never married, there were two loves in her life - teaching and theater. She taught english and theater at Burlington HS for 28 years, retiring in 1990. Her interest in theater drew her to St. Michael's Playhouse as a college freshman, where she met and worked with Donald and Joanne Rathgeb. Over the years they made the Playhouse a nationally recognized Equity theater and worked with actors Bela Lugosi, Jon Voight, Henry Gibson, Kenneth Kimmins and many others.
After she retired from teaching, she packed her bags and moved to Ireland for a year. She took an apartment in Dublin and spent the next year touring the Emerald Isle meeting distant relatives, making friends and stopping by a pub or two.
In recent years, her health began to fail and she developed dementia. It was sad to see her faculties diminish over the last few months, but the spark in her eyes never left.
She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Jacqueline Smyle and brother-in-law Bernhardt. Margaret is survived by her nephews Alex and his wife Carmen; Peter; niece Christine Rostas and her husband John. She will also be missed very much by Jason, Hannah, Ethan, Sean, Jack & Susie.
Our heartfelt thanks to all of the excellent health care professionals at both the Arbors and the Gazebo for everything you did for Margaret. You all contributed greatly to the quality of her life and our family is grateful.
In keeping with Margaret's wishes, there will be no calling hours or formal services. A celebration of her life will be held later this fall.