Margaret Florence Morreale
Margaret (Peg) Florence Morreale passed away at Serenity House in Santa Barbara on December 15, 2016. Peg was born in Boston, Massachusetts on June 12, 1929 the daughter of Martin Welby and Mary Nee, Irish immigrants who moved to America shorty after World War I. She had fond memories of her early years growing up in Jamaica Plain with her siblings Mary, Anna and Marty until the passing of her mother in 1937. Peg married Charles Morreale in 1951 and shortly after they moved cross country to begin a new life in Buena Park, California. Early on, Peg set her sights on a beach community and they soon moved to Corona Del Mar followed by Laguna Nigel before finally settling in Laguna Beach where they raised their sons Steve and Phil.
In her thirties, Peg evolved from a fifties housewife to a sixties feminist. She returned to school, earning a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology and a master’s degree in public administration. In 1972 she was elected to the office of Laguna Beach City Treasurer. In a 1973 quote from The Daily Pilot Peg said about her position; “A man comes in and he has it made. A woman must constantly say ‘I’m here, I’m important’ to gain recognition.” During this period of personal growth, Peg and Charles took a “break” from their marriage, remaining friends and remarrying eight years later. They lived a happy life together until her recent passing.
Peg is survived by her sister Mary Cataldo, husband Charles Morreale, sons Steve and Phil Morreale (Catharine), granddaughters Ali Manset Morreale and Jessica Morreale Therkelsen (Peter), great grandson Soren Lynn Therkelsen, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family offers a warm thank you for the care provided by the nurses at Cottage Hospital and the staff at Serenity House. May Peg’s Irish eyes continue to smile on us all.
A memorial celebrating Peg’s life will be held at the Maravilla Clubhouse in Santa Barbara on February 3 at 2 p.m. Memorial contributions in Peg’s name may be made to the “George and Peggy Manset Memorial Scholarship Fund” (made payable to the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 3620, SB, CA. 93130 )