Obituary of Margaret H. Watkins

Margaret Hamilton Watkins Lifelong Resident of West Caldwell Margaret "Peg" Hamilton Watkins, 93, peacefully passed away on Thursday, May 21, 2015 at home in West Caldwell, NJ. A Memorial Service will be held in St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 271 Roseland Avenue, Essex Fells, NJ, on Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 11:00 am. Inurnment will follow immediately at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Caldwell with a luncheon afterward at the family's home in West Caldwell. To extend condolences or share a memory, please visit www.codeyjonesfh.com. Peg was the daughter of Raymond and Margaret Hamilton. Born in Glen Ridge on June 8, 1921, Peg was raised in West Caldwell with her brothers and sisters. She graduated from Grover Cleveland High School in Caldwell in 1940 and attended Skidmore College. She and her husband of sixty-eight years, the late Frederick "Ted" Watkins, settled in West Caldwell where they raised their family of four. Peg enjoyed spending time at her grandparent's home in Salem, New York, her parents' farm in Milford, Pennsylvania, her in-laws home in New Hampshire, and her homes on Long Beach Island. She enjoyed horseback riding in Milford and sailing in the Caribbean and the Chesapeake Bay. She served as a member of the Saint Peter's Church Vestry, Alter Guild, and Music Committee, and was a first soprano for the choir and for the Verona Chorus. In addition to raising a family, Mrs. Watkins helped in her husband's business. Her favorite pastimes were her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and she was an avid New York Yankees fan. Peg also enjoyed Sudoku, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, genealogy and gardening. She was predeceased by her husband Frederick H. Watkins, Jr., her brother Raymond "Sher" Hamilton, Jr., her sister Betty DeRenzis and her brother-in-law Hastings Watkins. Surviving are her devoted children, Frederick H. Watkins, III, his wife Barbara; Bette Jane Wosilius, her husband Bill; Jock H. Watkins, his wife Beth; Terry W. Soriente and Rick D'Innocenzio; former son-in-law Ted Soriente; her brother John Hamilton; sister Jane Ridley; sister-in-law Mary Watkins Budd; brother-in-law Bill Farrar; eighteen cherished grandchildren: William, Frederick IV, Elizabeth, Allison, Jock, Dante, Briana, Meredith, Derek, Mark, Arielle, Damen, Dylan, Kiersten, Kia, Kenneth, Solomon and Selena; and eight great-grandchildren: Hunter, Will, Brendan, Logan, Kaitlyn, Holden, Emma, and Cooper. This amazing woman and her entertaining sense of humor will be greatly missed by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mrs. Watkins' name to St. Peter's Episcopal Church in care of Rev. Anthony Puca.