Margaret Anne Kneafsey

Margaret Ann Kneafsey, died August 25, 2021 peacefully at home. She was a great wife and mother as well as a friend to many. Known for her cheerful and upbeat attitude, her kindness, her laughter and her love for others; she was devoted to her faith, her church, and her family. Married 50 years to her beloved husband, Pat, Margaret was a loving mother to her daughter Israel, and sons Tim, Mike and Kevin.

Margaret was born on December 23, 1930 in Winneshiek County, Iowa, as the 7th of 10 children. Her family soon moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa where she grew up. After high school, Margaret studied nursing at St. Ambrose College where she met and eventually married Pat Kneafsey. In 1955, Margaret and Pat moved to Albuquerque, NM where Pat was stationed with the Army, and they established their home and began their family.

Margaret loved to laugh, sing and she took a genuine interest in others. A woman of great faith, she inspired others by her love and consideration for others. Important in this, was her 50 years of dedicated service to her church as well as to young pregnant women through the Birthright ministry. For many years, she organized a casserole drive to feed the homeless at the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd. Margaret also worked many years as a nurse and was a clinical nursing instructor.

Margaret loved to swim, ride her bike and go the weight room. She kept these activities up well into her 80's. She enjoyed the people she met in pools, locker rooms and gyms and developed lasting friendships there. Margaret was a lifelong learner and enjoyed taking University level classes including nutrition, Spanish, religion and athletics. A wonderful cook, Margaret made homemade bread, tortillas, applesauce, green chili, and jelly as well as many other delicious homemade meals.

One of Margaret's favorite things to do was to play cards and board games that challenged her sharp mind. An offer to play cards was greeted with an enthusiastic "yes" and the understanding that you may have just made her day. She played to win! She also loved to help others and did not hesitate to help family members or friends recovering from surgery and in need of extended care. Often on the phone, reaching out to others, she listened well and made people feel heard and loved.

Preceded in death by her husband, Pat in 2006, and grandson Andrew, Margaret is survived by Israel (Jerry), Tim (Laurie), Mike (Charlotte), Kevin (Leslie) as well as grandchildren Ben, Leigh Anne, Nick, Emma, Owen and Kate and great-grandchildren Ben and Hannah.

A Visitation will be held on Monday, September 13, 2021, 3:00 pm followed by rosary at 5:00 p.m. at FRENCH-University. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at 10:00 am at Holy Ghost Church, 833 Arizona St SE, and a burial will take place on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, 9:00 a.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd 218 Iron St. SW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102 https://www.gscnm.org or to Birthright https://birthright.org.