Margaret M. (Black) Chmielewski

Margaret "Peg" M. (Black) Chmielewski died peacefully at home on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at the age of 93, surrounded by her children. Peg was born and raised in South Philadelphia by her parents the late Hugh and Molly Black. She had 11 siblings which included brothers John, Archie, Anthony, Bobby, and Jimmy and sisters Sally, Francis, Sis, Mary, Elizabeth, and Theresa. She graduated from Hallahan High School and was employed at the Sugar House in the payroll department. She met Joseph (Ski) Chmielewski, who served in the U.S. Navy, and was stationed in Philadelphia at that time. Two years later they were married. Their loving marriage spanned 67 years until Ski’s death in 2020. Once Ski was honorably discharged from the Navy, they took up residence on the street where Peg was raised in South Philadelphia. Their young family grew quickly and, with that, they moved to the new and open spaces of Northeast Philadelphia. Peg’s time, love, and attention were devoted to raising her six children, and supporting Ski, as he was employed at Philco, attended night school at LaSalle, and founded Liberty Bell Youth Organization. Once the children were older, Peg worked as a computer operator at the IRS in Philadelphia. When Ski was transferred to a new position in the company, they moved to Florida - to Ormond Beach, and then to Sarasota. Peg and Ski were devout Catholics and made the necessary sacrifices to ensure all of their children attended Catholic grade school and high school. In their later years, Peg and Ski served as Eucharistic Ministers with Peg also visiting and administering Communion at nursing homes. It was a great blessing to Peg to be a member of the Secular Franciscan Order first in Ormond Beach as a member of the Little Flowers of St. Francis Fraternity and then in Sarasota as a member of the Portiuncula Fraternity. Peg had many interests and talents. She was an excellent swimmer in her youth and was never far from the water in adulthood. When the children were young, summer days were spent at the Philadelphia Aquatic Club. As grandkids came along, Peg enjoyed their house and the beach on Long Beach Island in New Jersey. Peg and Ski were avid golfers and spent many an afternoon on the links. Peg also loved to crochet and everyone in the family has her pillows and blankets. She loved to play the organ, read, paint, and do her morning cryptograms in record time. Peg is preceded in death by her husband Joseph P. Chmielewski, her daughter Ellen (Dave) Wasko, granddaughter Sandy Rodgers, and great-grandson Jacob Decardenas. Mom/Grammy will be deeply missed by her five children and their spouses: Joe and Sharon Chmielewski, Anne and Tucker Slattery, Jean and Mark Lipton, Mary and Lance Bistransky, and Paul and ImMe Chmielewski; 11 grandchildren: Cydnee (Nathan), Joseph (Zach), Lee (Holly), Matthew, Andrew, Christopher (Jen), David, Alex, Evve, Laine, and Sumner; and 7 great grandchildren: Orion, Iroh, Ares, Brandon, James, Evan, and Owen. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at The Church of St. Patrick in Sarasota, Florida on Saturday, March 4th, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Peg’s memory may be made to The Five Franciscan Martyrs Region, c/o Karen Rooney, OFS, 1315 Mirror Terrace NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881.

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Margaret M. (Black) Chmielewski

September 2, 1929 - February 8, 2023