VOORHEESVILLE — Marguerite T. Cackley, former teacher and beloved matriarch of a large extended family, died at home on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at the age of 101.

“She had been in  declining health for the past year,” her family wrote in a tribute. “The date on which she died, significantly, was her husband’s birthday — her family likes to think of them as finally reunited, 30  years after he passed away.

“Marguerite was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 12, 1923, and grew  up in nearby Wayne and Radnor. Her parents, Oliver P. Tatum Jr., of Philadelphia, and Marie-Antoinette Brébant Tatum, of Dourdan, France, raised Marguerite (or Guitte, as the family called her) speaking English and French.

“Guitte accompanied her mother and younger sister, Anne, on summer trips to France through her  childhood, and remembered translating for her American grandmother, at the age of 5, when the family came to France for a summer visit.  

“After graduating from Radnor High School in 1941, where she was the editor of the school’s newspaper and played field hockey, she attended Wellesley College, graduating in 1945 with a degree in French. She trained later that year in Washington, D.C. with the United States State Department, and in the fall of 1945 served as a bilingual clerk in the U.S. Consulate in Marseilles, France.

“She was happy to reconnect with her many French relatives, and there she met and fell in love with co-worker and vice consul, John N. Cackley Jr. They were married on March 1, 1946, in the bishop’s chapel in Marseilles, honeymooned in Switzerland, and returned to the U.S. the following month.

“Marguerite and John raised a family of four girls and four boys, moving from West Virginia (John’s home state) to South Bend, Indiana, to New Jersey, to Pennsylvania and back to South Bend in 1975. John worked as a college fundraiser, editor, and administrator for several universities and colleges, including  the University of Notre Dame, while Marguerite spent her time managing the children and the household.

“In later years, she taught high school French for a decade at Emmaus High School, in Pennsylvania, touching the lives of hundreds of students. She also took great pride in coaching the debate team.

“She and John enjoyed 49 years of marriage, until his death in 1995, and they traveled extensively together, visiting much of the U.S. and four other continents. In retirement, they both participated in the Senior Olympics. Marguerite played basketball with the New Mexico Flames in Albuquerque for several years.

“For the past 15 years, Marguerite lived in Voorheesville, near her youngest daughter, Fran Gorka, and her family. Fran was her primary caretaker in recent years, when Marguerite needed more help, and she enjoyed visits and caregiving from her other children and grandchildren as well.

“Marguerite loved the  small village of Voorheesville, being able to walk to St. Matthew’s Parish and  easily access the public library, the supermarket, and the hardware store. She was a devoted Catholic all her life and an avid reader.

“Two figures for whom she held deep appreciation were Dorothy Day and Jimmy Carter. She was someone who always looked on the positive side of life and lived with gratitude. Marguerite  especially took great joy in her large family, including 22 grandchildren and 16  great-grandchildren, as well as her six nephews and nieces and their children.

“She  held a lifelong enthusiasm for gardening, enjoying her daughter’s large vegetable and flower garden in nearby Altamont, and was a frequent visitor to the nearby Cornell Cooperative Extension master gardens.

“Marguerite continued speaking French throughout her life, conversing with her children and singing French songs. She enjoyed stumping her loyal caregivers who didn’t know French. And she remained in contact with her French cousins and their offspring, and visited France numerous times into her 80s.”

****

Marguerite T. Cackley is survived by her eight children: Steve (Ann Hughes), of Portland, Oregon; Anne May, of Rochester, New Hampshire; Chris (Eriko), of Hawi, Hawaii; Ellen Craig (Jonny), of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Marguerite Hayes (Michael), of Aurora, Colorado; Joe (Kathy Meath), of Kempton, Pennsylvania; Phil (Alicia), of Arlington, Virginia; and Fran Gorka (Chris), of Altamont, New York.

She is also survived by her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“The family,” the tribute said, “would especially like to thank Marguerite’s dedicated caregivers: Robin, Sharon, Lori, and Cary, and hospice nurses Kristin and Erin.

“Marguerite donated her body to Albany Medical College Anatomical Gift Program.”

A Celebration of Life will be held in August at St. Matthew’s Church in Voorheesville. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Pyramid Life Center at www.pyramidlife.org, or to Community Hospice of Albany at  hospice.org.