MARBLEHEAD — Margaret E. "Peg" McGill Petkewich, age 9,6 wife of the late Peter Petkewich, of Marblehead, died Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010 in the Lafayette Nursing Home, Marblehead, following a long illness.

A true and dedicated "Header" she was born in Marblehead the daughter of the late Michael and Elizabeth (Mulcahey) McGill. She was raised and educated in Marblehead schools, graduating from Marblehead High School in the Class of 1932. Mrs. Petkewich then attended Burdette College in Lynn and was employed by the Marblehead Messenger for 10 years. Later, she was the secretary for the late Stanford W. Hopkins, MD in Marblehead until her retirement.

A lifelong and active parishioner of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Mrs. Petkewich was a very caring person dedicated to advancing and supporting North Arc (now the Northeast Arc) and the Paul A. Dever School. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Marblehead Female Humane Society, active with the Lighthouse Thrift Shop and a member of the Neptunes Chorale and Tuesday Bridge Club. A loving and dedicated mother, she had been a Girl Scout Leader.

For several years, she and her late husband had enjoyed travel as well as square dancing with the Lancers in Danvers.

Mrs. Petkewich is survived by three children, Peter Petkewich of Danvers, David M. Petkewich and his wife Mary Lou of Reading and Christine VanRemoortel and her husband John of Marblehead; a sister, Alice Tompkins of Danvers; a sister-in-law, Anne Petkewich of Saugus; grandchildren, Rachel Petkewich and her husband Jason Nichols of Oakland, Calif., Jarrod Petkewich of Boxboro, Andrew Nichols and his wife Krista of Phoenix, and Heather Deschenes and her husband Fred of Essex; three great-grandchildren, Ashley and William Deschenes of Essex and Isaac Nichols of Oakland, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.

ARRANGEMENTS: Her funeral will be held on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011 at 9 a.m. from the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St. (corner of North Street) Salem to be followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 81 Atlantic Ave., Marblehead. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. Interment will be in Waterside Cemetery, Marblehead. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Northeast Arc, 64 Holten St., Danvers, MA 01923. For online guestbook or additional information please call 978-744-0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.