MARGUERITE T. PEGGY HEINTZ

MARGUERITE T. PEGGY HEINTZ

Marguerite T. "Peggy" Heintz, 80, of Westport,died March 1, 2010, at home, with her family by her side.

Born in Cambridge, Mass., she was a first generation Irish American and the daughter of the late John Joseph and Margaret Mary Darcy. She was a long-time Westport resident.

Prior to moving to Westport, she was raised in Newton, Mass., and was a 16-year resident of Norwood, Mass. In 1951, Heintz received her bachelor of science degree in education from Boston University, where she met her former husband, the late Francis W. Heintz.

An active community member in both Norwood, Mass., and Westport, she was a parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Norwood and a member and past president of the Norwood Catholic Women's Club and a Girl Scout Troop Leader. After moving to Westport, she became an active member of St. Luke Parish, where she co-founded St. Luke's Women's Guild and taught religious education for many years. She was the president of New Neighbors of Westport from 1970 to 1971. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother at Hillspoint Elementary School.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, she was a substitute teacher in the Westport School system. She focused her work on children with learning differences at Staples High School.

Heintz was very fond of arts and crafts and was a sewing instructor in the 1970s and early '80s. She faithfully assisted other St. Luke parishioners in the Old World Santa's fundraising event at Christmas. She loved the beach and was a charter member of the Compo Beach Bunch Society. She also spent many winters on Man of War Cay Island in the Bahamas.

Heintz is survived by her six children, Karin Benedict and her husband, Todd of Bourne, Mass., F. Michael Heintz and his wife, Nan Wasson of Norwalk, Mary Lou Heintz of Derby, Marguerite Davis and her husband, Leonard of Fairfield, Paul Heintz and his wife, Tanja Wilson Heintz of Trumbull, and David B. Heintz and his wife, Kimberly Oliver Heintz of West Hartford. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Darcy Heintz-Perkins and her wife, Kristen, Michael Davis, Paul H. Heintz, Maggie Davis, Sean Heintz, Emma Heintz, Olivia Heintz, Oliver W. Heintz and Henry B. Heintz; as well as many nephews and nieces and her special friend, Bernard Van Arkel.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, John Darcy.

Friends are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. today, March 5, at St. Luke Church in Westport; interment will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made in Heintz' name to The Whittingham Cancer Center, 24 Stevens St., Norwalk, CT 06850 (www.norwalkhospitalfoundation.org).

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, 50 Reef Road, Fairfield. To send an online condolence, visit www.shaughnesseybanks.com