Funeral mass was celebrated Nov. 15 at St. Mary’s R.C. Church, Jersey City for Mary Margaret Raleigh, 86. She passed away surrounded by her family at Jersey City Medical Center on Nov. 7. Born in Jersey City, Mary was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church where she was baptized, married, and served on the Rosary and Altar Societies. Mary attended St. Lucy’s Grammar School and was a 1943 graduate of St. Michael’s High School where as a varsity basketball player she was the Class Athlete as well as an avid dancer.
Mrs. Raleigh worked for the Federal Reserve Bank in New York and for Kraft Foods. A lifelong resident of Jersey City in the Downtown and Horseshoe section, she was very active in civil and socially uplifting programs. She volunteered her services on Sunday mornings at the New York Foundling Hospital where she cared for abandoned infants. She also volunteered as a Certified Nurse’s Aide at the four Jersey City hospitals: Medical Center, Christ Hospital, Greenville Hospital and St. Francis Hospital. She took enormous satisfaction in her family’s accomplishments, including her late husband and his service to his country in the United States Army as a survivor of Pearl Harbor and service to his community as a Jersey City firefighter, and those of her son, who both pursued careers as civil servants, William A., a Jersey City fire captain and Philip F. Jr., a Jersey City police detective.
Mrs. Raliegh was extremely of her grandchildren, whom she had the joy of for during the 15 years that she lived with them in Toms River and of her newest family member, great-granddaughter Apribella, whose recent visits provided her with immense joy. Mary was predeceased by her husband, Philip F. Raleigh, Sr.,( Ret. JCFD); her parents, John J. Loughlin and Mary (Fagan); brothers, Edward and John J (and his late wife Phyllis) and Thomas. She is survived by her sons, William A. Raleigh (JCFD) and Philip F. Raleigh, Jr.(JCPD); her sister; Anita McGrath; grandchildren, William A., Jr., Christie N. and Lindsey T. Raleigh; great-granddaughter Apribella; and many nieces and nephews. Services arranged by the McLaughlin Funeral Home, Jersey City.