 | | | July 22, 1929 - March 26, 2015 | | | | | | Margaret was an active member of the Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church where she served on several committees over the years. The ones most dear to her heart were the Stephen's Ministry where she came alongside people to love, listen, pray and support them during their times of need and the Women's Bible Study where she was a long time leader on Tuesday mornings. Margaret was also a former Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) leader in the Bay Area and former member of Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church.
Margaret has been known for the beautiful hats she would wear on Sunday mornings and for her great sense of humor. She was also known for the lovely luncheons and fun gatherings she would host at her home. She was quite proud of the abundant and colorful flowers that she nurtured around her home.
Young Margaret was very involved in the Salvation Army in Detroit, Mich., and attributed her strong faith from those early roots. Although aspiring to be a nurse, Margaret left her life in Detroit when she became engaged to John J. de Vries whom she met at Hope Reformed Church while visiting her father in Los Angeles.
During her years in Los Angeles, Margaret volunteered in her children's schools and the family church as well as at Harbor General Hospital in San Pedro.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Linda Keil on July 6, 1991 and most recently by her husband, John J. de Vries Sr. on Aug. 10, 2014, whom she married on Feb. 11, 1949. She and John had been residents of Moraga since 1971.
Margaret's greatest joy was her family. She was a dedicated mother to her daughter, Heather Alcantar and to her son, John de Vries Jr. as well as to her sons-in-law, Tim Alcantar and Timothy Keil and her daughter-in-law, Sonia de Vries, and honorary daughter-in-law, Laura Keil. She was a jubilant and loving grandmother to Katherine Keil, Aimee Keil Hauptman and husband Joe, Jordan Alcantar, Eric Alcantar, Michelle de Vries and Jonathan de Vries.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Margaret's honor to:
Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church
10 Moraga Valley Lane, Moraga, CA 94556 or
Salvation Army
2794 Garden Street, Oakland, CA 94601
|
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA