Margaret A. “Peg” Schmidt
Wife of former Mayor of Scranton William T. Schmidt

Margaret A. Schmidt, of Doylestown, passed away on Monday, September 30, 2013 at Doylestown Hospital in Doylestown, PA. She was 87.

Born in Scranton, she was the daughter of the late James and Vera Walsh Durkin, and sister to the late Anna Mae Blasi, and Joseph and Robert Durkin.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William T. Schmidt.

Peg was a graduate of St. Ann Basilica High School in Scranton, PA. Soon after graduation, she met her future husband, William T. Schmidt, and they settled down to raise their family in Lackawanna County. Peg loved being a mother and focused her attention on taking care of her home and family while her husband pursued his office as the Mayor of Scranton. She enjoyed helping her husband with his responsibilities during his term, and during this time her zeal for politics and the Republican Party came to light.

After Bill’s term as mayor was over, he pursued employment with the State of Pennsylvania, and with it came the necessity of moving his family to Camp Hill. Now that her children were older, Peg briefly worked at a bank and then joined her husband working for the State of Pennsylvania as an administrative assistant in the Department of Agriculture, where she retired after ten years of service. After retirement, she lived in Florida with her daughter Gayle for a decade and then came to settle in Doylestown close to her daughter Debbie, where she has resided for the last eight years.

Peg had a passion for all that she did, and it showed through her dedication to perfection, whether it being as small a task as making salads or larger ones, like running the Women’s Committee for the Republican Party. She loved to volunteer and did so at every opportunity, with various political organizations and hospitals throughout her life.

She was an avid sports fan, enjoying all sports but especially Penn State football. Peg had a quick wit and always had an amusing comeback accompanied by her beautiful smile. Strong willed and independent, she made people comfortable and feel at ease while in her presence. Peg will be dearly missed by everyone in her family.

She is survived by her loving daughters: Debra L. McNickle and her husband Bruce of Doylestown, PA and Gayle Boshek and her husband Jeffrey of Coral Springs, FL; her grandchildren: Jeffrey II, Wendi, Scott and William; great grandchildren: Jeffrey III, Jake and Taylor; her sister: Barbara Noto of Moscow, PA; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services for Peg will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Del. Valley Chapter, 399 Market St. Suite 102, Phila., PA 19106 or the American Parkinson Disease Association, 6700 Eastwood St., Phila., PA 19149.