Margaret "Peggy" Lemon

Margaret Anne “Peggy” Lemon, 60, Topeka, passed away Sat., Aug. 25, 2007 at St. Mary’s Hospital Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN from complications following a double lung transplant in Feb. 2007. Peggy was born July 4, 1947 in Topeka, the daughter of William and Frances Eileen (Gannon) Love. She graduated from Hayden High in 1965. On April 22, 1967, Peggy and Thomas Lemon were married at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Topeka. They celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this year and Tom was by her side and cared for her throughout her illness. After their three children were born, Peggy stayed home to raise them. When they were all in school, she went back to school herself and earned a degree at Barton Co. Community College as a registered nurse. She worked several years at St. Francis Hospital and then as the Director of Nursing at Woodland Health Center for 15 years before retiring for health reasons in 2002. She battled an autoimmune disease, scleroderma, for the last several years that eventually led to her need for a lung transplant. During retirement, she was able to do some volunteer work for Meals on Wheels and the Marian Clinic. She was a member of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church in Topeka. Throughout her illness, Peggy always showed courage and strength and a strong will to live. She was a nurturing and giving person who put the needs of others before her own and had an incredible faith in the Lord. She loved life and her family. Her greatest joy was her grandchildren, who called her “Nana”. She often sang to them, cooked for them and taught them prayers and countless nursery rhymes. She loved spending time with them and was very involved in their lives. She will be deeply missed by all her family and friends. She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Tom Lemon, Topeka; son Tom Lemon and wife, Karen, Topeka; daughter Mary Hanson and husband, Lonnie, Hoyt; daughter Angela Smith and husband, Richard, Topeka; grandchildren, Ava and Maggie Lemon, Clare, Kate and Caroline Hanson, Zach, Alaina and Olivia Smith; siblings, Bill Love and Tim Smith of Texas, Jean, Elizabeth, and Thomas Smith all of Topeka, and Mike Smith of Wichita; and her mother-in-law, Frances Doyle, Topeka. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Kevin Love. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Fri. at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Rd, Topeka KS 66614. Family will greet friends from 6 to 7 p.m. and a parish prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Sat. at Mater Dei Holy Name Catholic Church in Topeka. Burial will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to The Gift of Life Transplant House or Mother Teresa Catholic Church, sent in care of the funeral home.

Margaret "Peggy" Lemon

July 4, 1947 - August 31, 2007