Margaret "Margi" Gregory

On Tuesday, October 10th, 2023, Margaret “Margi” Gregory departed peacefully surrounded by family.  She was born June 30, 1938 in Brooklyn, New York.  She was a loving wife to her departed husband, V. James “Jim” Gregory. They had been married 53 years at the time of his passing in 2015. She was a wonderful mother to her children: Katie Clarke (Tripp), Maggie Manuel (Robert), Jim Gregory (Cathy), David Gregory (Sharon) and Betsy Tseronis (Pete).  Additionally, Margi was a proud grandmother to sixteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Margi was the youngest of three siblings (the late Jim Brown and Mary Ann Fink). Her father was a lawyer and eventually a justice of the New York Supreme Court. Her mother was an active philanthropist. She was born and raised a city girl in New York enjoying experiences like skating in Rockefeller Center, concerts at Radio City Music Hall and trips to Coney Island Park. She boarded at Sacred Heart High School in Greenwich, CT and then Rosemont College in Rosemont, PA. Margi enjoyed and excelled at the arts, appearing in numerous plays during high school. She was an Art major at Rosemont and appeared in plays including Our Town and the Importance of Being Earnest. She enjoyed her talent of drawing and painting throughout her life.

After graduation from Rosemont she married Jim Gregory, from Greenwich, CT.  They originally met when Jim, at nearby Villanova University, and Margi were on a double date together (not with each other). This meeting eventually led to their first date on October 17, 1958, an anniversary they celebrated each year of their lives. They married October 7, 1961 at St. Saviours in New York City.

The most formative event of Jim and Margi’s lives was their first Marriage Encounter weekend in 1970. They were so inspired that they dedicated decades to leading Marriage Encounter “weekends” for other couples. Years later, they were elected to the Executive Board of Worldwide Marriage Encounter. Their deepest friendships were borne through Marriage Encounter. As children we have many memories of couples retreats in our living room complete with song and prayer. It was inspiring to see such commitment to the Sacrament of Marriage.  They truly embraced the notion that their Marriage was a Sacrament and included husband, wife and God. They lived the Sacrament as an outward sign for others to see. Anyone that new Jim and Margi would agree that they embraced the responsibility to evidence, outwardly, their love for each other.

Jim and Margi continued their spiritual growth with Epiphany Association, Academy of Formative Spirituality. Margi received her masters degree in Formative Spirituality, an example of her never ceasing desire to learn and grow in her faith.   Jim and Margi also volunteered their time as Engaged Encounter, Pre Cana and Baptism ministers with St. James Parish in Sewickley.

One of the accomplishments that Jim and Margi’s family will cherish was the publishing of a book chronicling their lives, called Becoming Real. After years of chipping away at its content together, the book became real indeed several years after Jim’s death. The theme of becoming real has been deeply rooted in the Gregory family. It is a reference to the book the Velveteen Rabbit, a story about what it means to become real. This story was introduced to Jim and Margi in 1970, shortly after their first Marriage Encounter weekend. It became part of family tradition as it was read aloud by Jim each Christmas Eve with children (and then grandchildren) sitting quietly listening. Tears flowed every year. The book was a wedding gift to each of the children. Key quotations from the story hang in all of our homes and are even tattooed on numerous arms in the family. In Margi’s final days, time was passed reading Becoming Real to her. We know that this was a precious gift.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Epiphany Association (epiphanyassociation.org).   The Epiphany Association is a center offering adult faith formation and is dear to our parents’ hearts.   

Please come prepared to celebrate the life of Margi on November 11, 2023. Visitation will be at R. D. Copeland, Ltd, Irvine Chapel, 702 Beaver Street, Sewickley from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM followed by 11:00 Funeral Mass at St James, Sewickley.

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