Margaret "Peggy" Alcorn
March 1, 1931 - November 29, 2023
Obituary
Margaret “Peggy” ALCORN, SP
Sister Margaret “Peggy” Alcorn, age 92, a Sister of Providence for 41 years, died November 29, 2023 at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Wash. Vigil: Thursday, December 14, 2023, 4:00 pm, at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Ave. SW, Seattle, Wash. Funeral Mass: Friday, December 15, 2023, 11:00 am at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Wash. Bonney Watson Funeral Home oversees arrangements.
Sister Peggy was born Margaret Jane on March 1, 1931, in Little Rock, Ark. to Kenneth and Ida Mae (Pierce) Alcorn, their only child. At the age of five her family moved to Ojai, Calif., where she grew up. Sister Peggy was just 6 ½ years old when her mother died in an auto accident. She was then raised by her maternal grandmother.
In 1977, she joined the Catholic Church. After a year of prayer, study and support, and meeting several Sisters of Providence at a religious vocation retreat, she began the process to enter the Sisters of Providence community. In 1981, at the age of 51, Sister Peggy entered the Congregation as a candidate. She professed First Vows in 1984 [SP1] and Final Vows in 1987.
In 1949, Sister Peggy graduated from Nordhoff Union High School in Ojai. In 1982, she received an A.A. degree in Gerontology from Spokane Falls Community College. In 1985, she earned a B.A. in Social Work from Eastern Washington University.
Sister Peggy’s ministries were in pastoral care and social work. Her first ministry was in Great Falls, Mont., as Project Director at Columbus Hospital (1985-86], working to establish a volunteer chore services program while volunteering in pastoral care and social work. In the fall of 1986, Sister Peggy ministered at Elder Services, Spokane, Wash. as a case manager. In 1987, she became assistant superior of Mount St. Joseph (“The Mount”), Spokane, Wash. Two years later she was appointed superior. In 1993, after training in clinical pastoral education, she volunteered in pastoral care at St. Joseph Hospital, Polson, Mont., returning to Spokane in 1995 to be a member of the Sisters’ Community Life Team at The Mount. Ministering at The Mount was Sister Peggy’s favorite ministry, having daily contact with the residents and other members of the Community Life Team. Even though Sister Peggy retired in 2000 at the age of 69, she continued to serve as part-time receptionist for the Provincial Administration offices of the Sisters and performing various other community responsibilities. She moved from Spokane to Seattle in 2017.
Sister Peggy was grateful for her education, which taught her so much about aging. She was also thankful for her faith, the enduring support of her religious community, and the many occasions to follow her passions to assist others.
She is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by the Sisters in her community and several beloved friends.