Obituary of Margaret B. Ohmstede

Margaret B. (Cawley) Ohmstede, of Duxbury, formerly of Jamaica Plain, passed away peacefully at home on May13, 2024 surrounded by loved ones.  Margaret was the beloved daughter of the late Winifred and Patrick Cawley. She spent 50 wonderful years with her devoted husband, Karl Ohmstede until his death in 2017.  Margaret leaves her son Karl Ohmstede and his wife Laura (Whyte) of Duxbury; her sister, Sr. Veronica Cawley, MMM; and her sisters-in-law Mary Cawley, and Kay Cawley.  Margaret is predecesed by her sisters Mary Riley; Kathleen Cawley; Winifred Cawley; Patricia Cawley Rabbit; and Ann Cawley. She is also predeceased by her brothers, James, John, Thomas and Richard. She is survived by many nieces and nephews and friends.

As the second youngest of 11 children, she was loved and cherished throughout her life. Family was paramount to her, and she made everyone feel like family. Margaret remained close with her childhood friends. Margaret’s kitchen was always the place to be. Everyone was welcome and fed abundantly, but food was not the only draw. Magaret had an intuitive nature and could sense when a friend or family member was troubled and made it a point to discreetly reach out and comfort them. Her warmth was infectious.

Margaret loved long walks on the beach, collecting sea glass, and her close-knit group neighborhood friends. As a child Margaret loved playing sports and was quite competive. Her passion never waned, and she became a staunch supporter of her beloved Boston sports teams.

Margaret’s first date with the love of her life, Karl was a Bruins game. They were constant companions and card games were the norm in the household. Margaret was a rock during her husband’s illness and tenderly cared for him until his death. 

Her son Karl was her light. Their strong bond enabled them to learn and grow together during her struggle with dementia. He and Laura cared for her with patience, compassion and love. Even in illness, Margaret was the consummate hostess.

Margaret was a long time communicant Holy Family Church in Duxbury, she was extremely spiritual and enjoyed Sunday morning Mass and the comradery that followed. (At Dunkin Donuts).

 Her sense of humor was legendary. The twinkle never left her eye and her smile would warm a room.

Services for Margaret will be held on Wednesday May 22 at 10am at the Holy Family Church 601 Tremont St. Duxbury, MA.

She will be missed