Margaret Hayes Breck, 84 of Leonardtown, MD, known as "Goggie" to everyone, died peacefully on March 6, 2013. Margaret was born in Waterbury, CT, the daughter of William and Molly Hayes.

After the untimely death of her mother, Margaret and her brother went to live with her Aunt and Uncle, John and Bertha Gleason, in Springfield, MA, who raised them as their own. These were the only parents she ever really knew.

Margaret grew up as a 2nd generation Irish-American during the Great Depression, in a middle class "melting pot" neighborhood which included all faiths and nationalities. It was these life experiences which formed her foundation for tolerance, love and taking care of others.

After attending Catholic Schools for 12 years, she enrolled in the Gough Business School. Upon completion of her studies there, Margaret went to work for Mass Mutual Insurance Company, followed by the Springfield Fire & Marine Insurance Company. Being a trailblazer, she was one of the first Catholics hired to work for Mass Mutual.

Her work at Springfield Fire & Marine led to her meeting her future husband on a double date. The guy who asked her out, made the mistake of asking Bill Breck to do the double with him and the rest is history. Dad asked Mom out for his next date and they became a couple.

On March 31, 1951 she married Wilfred R. Breck, Jr. (Bill) in Springfield, MA. They subsequently moved to East Orange, NJ where they had their first child, Nancy Breck Dale. In 1953 they moved to Catonsville, MD where three more children were born; Barbara J. "BJ" Breck Raley, John H. Breck and Charles G. Breck. In 1965, the family moved to Leonardtown, MD where Margaret lived until her death.

Margaret was a very active homemaker all of her married life. She was a member of the Sweet Adolines in Catonsville and St. Mary's County, a founding member of Birthright of Southern Maryland, founding member of the Leonardtown Lioness Club and served on the auxiliary to St. Mary's Hospital. As a young girl in her 20's, she helped establish the Young Democrats Club in Springfield, MA and was active in organizing strategies for her party. This continued in her life here in St. Mary's County where she organized lunches, teas and cocktail parties for candidates she supported and helped many of them get elected. She was recognized for these efforts when she was elected to the Democratic Club Hall of Fame. In her younger days while raising a family of 4 children, she enjoyed bowling, playing cards and was a volunteer, substitute teacher and librarian at Father Andrew White School.

In 1973, her first grandchild was born and tagged her with the moniker of "Goggie", a name she relished until her death. One of the most endearing things about Goggie was her ability to "never know a stranger." She loved people of all kinds and made friends everywhere she went. Many people considered her to be another mother to them and she loved this role. All of her children's friends, the neighbors and more were always welcomed into her home at any time of the day or night. She was most certainly the "unofficial welcome wagon" to new families moving into Breton Bay, Leonardtown and the surrounding communities. She simply showed up, introduced herself and told you how great life was here in St. Mary's County. By her words and actions, she counseled many people of all ages and could be counted on in good times or bad. Her hugs are world famous.

Goggie is survived by her children, BJ Breck Raley and her husband Rick, John Breck and his wife Sue and Charlie Breck and his wife Betsy, all of Leonardtown, MD. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, daughter Nancy Breck Dale, her parents and her siblings. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 19 Great-grandchildren. Truly, Goggie had many, many more "kids" that considered her to be a second mother or grandmother to them.

A Memorial Service will be celebrated on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Aloysius Church, 22800 Washington Street, Leonardtown, MD 20650 followed by a life celebration and Irish Wake. These were Goggie's wishes. She always said that she had lived a long and wonderful life and she wanted a celebration of her life to be her last gift to everyone she knew and loved. Inurnment will be private.

The family requests that contributions be made in Goggie's memory to the St. Mary's Nursing Center Foundation, 21585 Peabody Street, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.