Margaret (Peggy) Ann Osborne (née Fischer) passed away peacefully on October 29, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Despite the challenges of dementia in her final years, her bright spirit and loving nature remained unchanged.
A resident of Maple Glen, PA; Ocean City, NJ; and Venice, FL, she lived a life defined by faith, family, and generosity. She was married to her husband, Frank J. Osborne, for nearly 55 wonderful years before his passing in June 2023. Their loving partnership laid the foundation for a family legacy enriched by unconditional love, kindness, hard work, and open communication.
She and Frank raised five cherished children: Kelley Faust, Kevin Osborne, Colleen Mook, Frank Osborne, and Megan Romano. They shared a special fondness for their “outlaws”: Lew Adams, Leslie Osborne, Brad Mook, Karolina Dworakowska, and Brian Romano. The sparkle of Peggy Ann’s bright blue eyes was reserved for her 15 grandchildren: Kerry Elizabeth, Christine Ann, Anna Grace, Margaret Mary; Colin James, Grace Elizabeth, Cameron Francis, Molly Elizabeth, Gavin Osborne, Elizabeth Caroline, Delaney Frances, James Patrick, Kathryn Grace, Erin Margaret and Ryan Francis. She is also survived by extended family and many kind nieces and nephews who affectionately called her Aunt Peg. Peggy Ann was predeceased by her parents, John and Margaret (Peg), her brothers Jack and Joe, and her many beloved family members in the United States and the Hearne family in Ireland, who always had a special place in her heart.
As “MomMom,” she had an extraordinary gift for making each grandchild feel uniquely special, understanding and celebrating their individual personalities, interests, and dreams. Yet she also had a playful side-in quiet moments, she would pull each one aside with a conspiratorial whisper: “I have a secret – but don’t tell anyone, you’re my favorite.” The grandchildren made a game of asking her publicly to declare her favorite, delighting in how she would just flash her characteristic smile, never revealing what they each “knew” in confidence.
The warmth and love that defined her family life had its roots in her own upbringing. Raised in the Lawndale section of Philadelphia, Peggy Ann was a proud member of the St. William’s Alumni Hall of Fame and in the second graduating class at Cardinal Dougherty High School. She went on to study at Gwynedd Mercy Junior College, St. Joseph’s University, and Temple University-becoming the first in her family to pursue higher education. “Success is just luck-ask any failure,” she would often say with a twinkle in her eye, though those who knew her understood that her success came from determination and hard work. She began her teaching career on an Aztec reservation in Tula Rosa, NM, an experience that shaped her lifelong commitment to helping those in need and giving back. Through her 20+ years as a special education teacher in the Philadelphia School District, Peggy Ann left an indelible mark on her students, embodying kindness and responsibility in every lesson. Ever the learner, she embraced new challenges throughout her life, even getting on Snapchat and other technologies with the patient guidance of her grandchildren to stay connected with her growing family.
While Peggy Ann found fulfillment in her career, her family and Osborne’s Inn held a special place in her heart. The Inn, at the corner of 15th and Wesley in Ocean City, NJ, was her pride and joy outside of her family. Her motto, “There are no strangers here, only friends we haven’t yet met,” set the tone for the Inn’s welcoming atmosphere. In 1974, she and her husband purchased the large home with four children under five years old-a testament to their courage and vision. For fifty-one years, Osborne’s Inn has been a “home away from home” for countless guests who returned annually to experience Peggy Ann’s warm hospitality and her unwavering belief that everyone deserved to feel like family. The compliment she valued most was when people would tell her that her children and grandchildren were kind, seeing it as her most important legacy-a testament to the goodness she brought into the world.
A guiding light in Peggy Ann’s life was her faith. A devout Catholic, she believed deeply in God’s presence and shared her faith freely with others. As she raised her children, each night without fail, she would gather them for prayers that concluded with words now forever etched in their hearts: “Keep us happy, healthy, safe and wise. Goodnight God, I love you God, thank you for everything God.” Even today, her adult children can recite these cherished words by heart, a testament to the lasting foundation of faith she built. Fondly called the ‘Church Lady’ by her children’s friends, she lived her values openly and joyfully throughout her life. In her adult years, she deepened her commitment to her faith by becoming a Mercy Associate, dedicating herself to serving others, particularly those less fortunate. As her family grew, her greatest joy was gathering them all for Christmas Eve Mass, her heart swelling with pride as they filled three pews together-her only wish each Christmas season.
Known for her boundless energy and joy, Peggy Ann was often the first to dance at weddings, eagerly encouraging others to join in. Her joyful spirit rang out in her legendary voicemails, where she would sing “I Just Called to Say I Love You” or “I’m Proud of You” – messages that brought smiles not just to her children but to college roommates and friends who delighted in hearing “Mrs. O’s singing messages.” Whether sharing buckets of Johnson’s Popcorn and Shriver’s Salt Water Taffy or leaving her musical messages, these simple gestures touched countless lives. Her life was a testament to the strength of kindness, love, and faith, which she shared abundantly and without reservation.
Family and friends are invited to attend the viewing in Peggy Ann’s honor on Monday, November 4, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Anton B. Urban Funeral Home, 1111 S. Bethlehem Pike, Ambler, PA 19002. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Alphonsus Church, 1571 Temple Drive, Maple Glen, PA, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, with visitation from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM, followed by Mass. Interment will be held at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, located at the intersection of Cheltenham Avenue and Ivy Hill Road in Cheltenham, PA.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Caring for Friends https://caringforfriends.org/ or The Camphill School in Glenmoore, PA, https://camphillschool.org/, which provides education for children with special needs, including her beloved granddaughter Ellie, whom she lovingly called her “Special Angel Ellie.”
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