Margaret "Peg" Cawthra

Margaret “Peg” Cawthra, 89, passed away June 4, 2025, at Brightwater Outpatient Rehabilitation Services, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Born in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey on June 28, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Ralph and Dorothy Bischoff. After meeting her husband, William Cawthra, Sr.,  at Esso Standard Oil Company, falling in love, and marrying in 1957, they resided in Mahwah, New Jersey via Midland Park, New Jersey. After nearly 40 years and retirement, Peg and husband, Bill, built a gorgeous home at Brunswick Plantation in Calabash, North Carolina.

 After another 14 years they moved once again to Brightwater Retirement Community. Peg was an active member of three churches; at Westside Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood, New Jersey, she was a Guild columnist, First Presbyterian Church in Ramsey, New Jersey, she served as  President of the Women’s Guild at the Ramapo Reformed Church in Mahwah, New Jersey, she was an ordained Deacon, Elder, and clerk of the Consistory.

Professionally, Peg served as an executive Secretary in the  Personnel Department for Esso Standard Oil Company, New York City, New York for 6 years, followed by twelve years for the Township of Mahwah, New Jersey. There, her dedicated service led her to many roles: she established  and ran a newly formed Sewer Department, served as assistant director and director of the Department of Human Services, she was a member of Mahwah’s Emergency Management Team, and served on both the Mahwah Scout Explorer Post and Juvenile Conference Committee. Peg received the “Pioneer Woman of the 90’s” award for innovative and outstanding work in the field of Social Work.

Peg’s tireless spirit of service extended over 61 years of volunteering. She served as Vice President and President of the Midland Park Women’s Club in the mid ‘60’s and was a twenty five year member of the Mahwah’s Women’s Club, where she chaired Social Services for 18 years; She was also involved in penal reform affiliated with the Friends of Fortune/Fortune Society, helping rehabilitate incarcerated individuals for successful reentry into society. She served on Mahwah’s Board of Elections for 10 years in roles of clerk and judge. She was deeply involved in her children’s scouting activities - as den mother, secretary to son’s Scout Troop, mother of an Eagle Scout, and a Girl Scout Cookie Chairman.

She generously gave  10 years of service to the Valley Hospital Auxiliary and chair the   Kurth Cottage, a hospital dining association. She took joy in over 2 decades of dedicated involvement as a board member trustee, custom designer, and wardrobe mistress for a local theater troop, Small Town & Fancy Players.

After retiring, Peg and Bill moved to the Carolina’s where Peg once again volunteered her time and talents to a local food pantry, thrift store, and soup kitchen of the First Presbyterian Church. She also performed the duties as first secretary of the Brunswick Plantation Homeowner’s Association.

Peg was a Force to be reckoned with. She was a constant advocate for others and had an unshakable desire to help everyone she encountered.  Peg’s loving trademark was to "take the world to dinner" and there was always a kiss and a hug from Peg. She was everyone’s delight and was easy to fall in love with. Peggy will be greatly missed by all who loved her and the rest of the world who still needed to meet her.

She was predeceased by her husband William Cawthra, Sr who died in 2016.

Surviving are her children, Cathy Pergola and William Cawthra, Jr., her cherished grandchildren, Bruce Pergola, Jr., Meagan Pergola, Cinnamon Cawthra, Cody Cawthra, and wife, Alyssa and William Cawthra, III and wife Heather; great grandchildren, Ziara Kelley, William Cawthra, IV, Carter Cawthra and Maddie Cawthra. 

A Celebration of Life at 11:00 am, Saturday, June 28, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church, 3810 Robert Grissom Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC 

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Margaret “Peg” Cawthra can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/help-support?form=FUNDHYMMBXU    would be appreciated.

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