Mrs. Margaret (Peggy) Turner Garbooshian

Margaret (Peggy) Turner Garbooshian died peacefully, on September 7, 2018, in Pittsburgh, PA, with her loving family by her side. Peggy was born in Binghamton, NY, on April 19, 1941 to Charles W. and Margaret C. Turner. She was a graduate of Binghamton Central High School, and was educated at Rosemont College, SUNY Binghamton (Harpur College), St. Mary’s College, and Rutgers University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Peggy married her best friend and high school sweetheart, Harold Garbooshian, on September 15, 1962, at St. Patrick’s Church, Binghamton, NY. They honeymooned in Cooperstown, NY, and baseball was a constant family theme throughout her entire life. Peggy taught history at Foothill High School, Pleasanton, CA, before the family moved to Pittsburgh (Franklin Park Borough) in 1984. Thus began her 34 year love affair with the City of Pittsburgh. She was also a prolific substitute teacher within the North Hills, Avonworth and North Allegheny school districts of western Pennsylvania. She spent countless hours enjoying and watching her grandchildren play baseball, football, soccer, basketball and golf. There was always a book and a New York Times crossword puzzle by her side, and she stood ready for a conversation with anyone about anything. Peggy loved working in her yard, her family, her friends; her Pittsburgh Pirates, puzzles in her living room, and playing cards with her grandchildren; winters in Englewood, FL, walking the beach on Manasota Key, and her local church. She hosted a Christmas brunch for 25 years in her Franklin Towne neighborhood, and many parties where friends and guests could enjoy her beautiful back yard and gardens. Family vacations to Canaan Valley, WV, Hilton Head Island, SC, and Cooperstown, NY, were highlights of her summers. She enjoyed Pittsburgh Public Theater, and regular trips to New York City where she attended Broadway plays, visited museums, and took long walks in Central Park. Peggy (and Harold) enjoyed traveling the world with close friends, Bill and Toni Land, Polly and Tom Lechner, and Charlie and Cricket Clifford. Over the years, her favorite destinations included England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Italy and South America. She was active within the St. John Newman Parish, the American Association of University Women (AAUW), and was a lifelong Democrat who donated her time as a minority inspector in western Pennsylvania’s 12th district. For the last decade, she volunteered in her daughter’s kindergarten classrooms within the Avonworth school district. Peggy is survived by her husband of 56 years, Harold Garbooshian (Pittsburgh, PA); her four children, and eight grandchildren. Michael Garbooshian (Shanna Garbooshian; Emily Garbooshian) of Issaquah, WA; Betsy Yung (John Yung; Matthew Yung, Megan Yung) of Paradise Valley, AZ; Peggy Kopp (Brian Kopp; Henry Kopp, Charlie Kopp) of New Freedom, PA; Sara Osborn (Chad Osborn; Alex Osborn, Noah Osborn, Jacob Osborn) of Ben Avon, PA. She is also survived by her sister Mary (Turner) Riddell of Needham, MA. “Grammy Peggy” will always be loved, never be forgotten, and will be forever in our hearts and prayers. What will be missed, however, will be her strawberry jam, ginger cookies, chocolate chip cookies, coffee cake, and her home made dinner rolls. Friends received on Thursday, September 13, 2018 5-8 pm at Simons Funeral Home, Inc, 7720 Perry Hwy. Funeral mass will be held Friday, September 14th at 10:30 am at St. John Neumann Church, Pittsburgh, PA, followed by a burial service at Sewickley Cemetery, Sewickley, PA. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to either North Hills Food Bank (northhillsfoodbank.org) or Unbound (unbound.org). “Be not afraid. I go before you always. Come follow me, and I will give you rest.”

Mrs. Margaret (Peggy) Turner Garbooshian

April 19, 1941 - September 7, 2018