Margaret E. Gallagher Champagne

Margaret Champagne was born in Tacoma and died peacefully at home in Dash Point surrounded by her children. She was 104.5 years old.

The second of four children, she was born to Manus and Margaret Gallagher and was raised in the North End of Tacoma where Point Defiance Park was her playground. She attended Holy Cross grade school, Mason Junior High, and graduated from Stadium High School. She later attended Knapps Business College before working in the office of Northwest Door.

She met and married Vernon Champagne in 1942. They were transferred to Vancouver, WA where they lived for 25 years and raised four children. On their 25th anniversary they moved back to Tacoma where they continued to work and live. Margaret worked for St. Regis Paper Company until she retired in 1983 and afterwards became a savvy computer user in her senior years. She was entirely devoted to her Irish family which remained at the center of her life. Everyone who knew Margaret admired her and loved her.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Owen, and her sisters, Nora Duggan and Sally Gaschk, her grandson Todd Lorell, and great grand daughter, Audrey Garner. She is survived by her children: Dennis Champagne of Tacoma, Patrick Champagne (Peter Sass) of Portola Valley, CA, Mary Ann Champagne (Ken Lorell) of Los Altos, CA, and Sue Ellen Young (Steven Young) of Brixey, MO. She is also survived by her five grandchildren, Christopher Young, Matthew Young, Emily Garner, Kevin Lorell, Kelan Champagne, four great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Theresa parish in Federal Way on Monday April 17th at 11AM. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Tacoma.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bellarmine High School, Tacoma, or the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Theresa parish.

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