Obituary of Margaret Ella Salvini

Margaret Ella Salvini, who was Marge, Mom, Grandma, or Gee-Gee, depending on who was loving her at the moment, passed away on October 14, 2016, just a few weeks short of her 100th birthday. Margaret was born to Nelson H. and Margaret McGrory Phillips on November 25, 1916, on Dean Street in Brooklyn, New York. As a result of a family tragedy at the age of nine, she and her brother and sisters were cared for by the Dominican Sisters. When Margaret finished the eighth grade, she was prayerfully sent out into the world and became a devoted nanny to two families, and a valued office assistant to a family physician. While she was working at a USO function in New York City, she met "the handsomest man I'd ever seen," she said. She and James J. Salvini were married on February 6, 1944. After his discharge from the Army Air Force following WWII, they lived in Hobart, where Marge became wife and business partner in the Hobart Radio & Electric Company. Her on-the-job training and bright mind gave her business skills and knowledge beyond the offerings of any academic institution, and the business was known and respected in the surrounding counties. She and Jim raised four daughters, and saw them all off to college: Margaret Sharp (Frank), Roberta Case, M.D. (Richard), Elizabeth Ann Hardesty (Thomas), and Gloria Jean Pryhuber, M.D. (Keith). She is also survived by seven grandchildren (James, Katherine, David, Joseph, Jeffrey, Jennifer, and Andrew), six great-grandchildren (Micah, Dominic, Evan, Joel, Daniel, and one on the way), and special niece (Linda Salvini) and nephew (W. Tee Gould). She was preceded in death by her beloved Jim, in 1983, shortly after their retirement to Winter Haven, Florida in 1981. During those 25 years in central Florida, she was encouraged to buy and learn to drive a car, earning her first driver's license at age 65. She became very active at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Winter Haven. She created untold numbers of beautiful crocheted and hand-crafted items and deftly managed her own affairs until 90 years young. She left behind many friends and neighbors in that area when she moved to Midland, Texas in 2006 to be with her loving daughter Roberta and family until she left for her heavenly reward. She often said she had an angel on her shoulder, who is, no doubt, still guiding her. The family is very grateful for the love and attention Marge received from friends, beloved Marie and many special caregivers, and her church families through the years. Visitation and Rosary were held on Monday, October 17 at Ellis Funeral Home Chapel, Midland, TX. A funeral mass was celebrated on Tuesday, October 18 at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Midland, TX. Relatives and friends are invited to call on the family from 10AM until 11:30Am on Saturday, October 29th at MacArthur Funeral Home in Hobart where an informal time of sharing and expressions of memories and thoughts will close the visitation. Graveside services and burial will follow at 1PM on Saturday at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Stamford with the Rev Michael Cambi, officiating. Please visit www.macarthurfh.com to share a condolence with the family.