Margaret "Peg" Petersen Quigley

March 16, 1927 - April 23, 2024

Margaret (Peg) Petersen Quigley, age 97, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2024.  Peg was born Margaret Gillette Shamer on March 16, 1927, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Bertha T. and Maurice E. Shamer. The middle child of two physicians, Peg grew up in a busy household, with her parents' offices located in the home, and thus early in life learned the importance of caring for others.  Peg joined the Girl Scouts, where she enjoyed camping, hiking, and made life-long friends.  At the University of North Carolina she attended the Women's College and graduated with a degree in Sociology in 1948.  In 1951 she married Rodney Petersen and moved to Birmingham, Michigan, where he served as the Minister of Music. Peg was active in the church and the community while raising their three sons and a daughter. Peg and Rod divorced in 1979.

Peg earned her master's degree in social work from Wayne State University in 1979. Specializing in gerontology, she served as a social worker for over a decade. In 1987 she married Arlon Quigley, blending a family of eight adult children. In 1993, Peg lost her oldest child John, after a long battle with mental illness.

Peg was an active member of the Congregational Church of Birmingham, and served for some time as moderator of the church council. Peg also served on the board of the Furniture Bank and as a docent at the Detroit Zoo. Together with Arlon, Peg enjoyed competing in the Senior Olympics, winning medals at the local, state, and national events including discus, bicycling and long jump.

In 2003 Peg and Arlon moved to Fox Run Senior Living in Novi, Michigan.  At Fox Run she was involved in countless groups, often in leadership roles; including quilting, gardening, recycling, handbells, choir, the resident advisory council, the political action committee, the weekly interdenominational service, and water aerobics. In an interview in 2013, when asked what she liked to do, she said "I like to be in charge."  Peg loved to read, she loved nature, and gardened throughout her life.  She loved her family, taking time to know each of her many grandchildren's special interests and attending their concerts, shows, sporting events, and graduations.

In 2023 Peg moved to Ridgecrest Senior Living in Pittsburgh to be close to her daughter, Susan. There she continued to enjoy trips to the park, family dinners, and Sunday morning worship.

Peg is survived by her children:  Robert Emory Petersen (Linda Lau), James Rodney Petersen, Susan Margaret Petersen (Stefan Frembgen), and her stepchildren: Kathy Binning, David Quigley (Kathy) and Karen Waynick.  Grandma Peg will be greatly missed by her 12 grandchildren: Dan, Jon, Christine, Lisa, John Russell, Brandon, Rich, Sarah, Kara, Ingrid, Marco, and Renée as well as her 16 great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister, Miriam S. Daly, and preceded in death by her husband Arlon B. Quigley, her first husband Rodney M. Petersen, her son John Marius Petersen, and her brother David Shamer.

A Memorial Service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Pittsburgh, 5401 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.

A Memorial Service will be held at Fox Run Senior Living, 41000 W 13 Mile Road, Novi, MI 48377 on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a light lunch.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to

•   A charity of your choice related to Peg's love of nature or her passion for social justice,

•   The Benevolent Care Fund at Fox Run Senior Living in Novi Michigan

•   Congregationalist Church of Birmingham in Bloomfield, Michigan.