Peggy LoPresti

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

Peggy Burnell LoPresti, 94, departed this life for Heaven on Monday morning, June 22, 2020. The angels carried her, ever so gently, away from the comfort of her home, a home she built with her husband, Anthony (Tony) Frank, over 60 years ago. 

Peggy was born at the family home in Galena, Kansas on August 4, 1925 to the late James Oscar Griggsby and Jean Alberta (Elliott) Griggsby. Her father was born in the same home and she was raised, along with her brother, Jim, by her father and her granny, Lillie May.

In her early years, Peggy worked at Miller Manufacturing. In 1962, she went to work at St. Mary's Catholic School in the cafeteria -- a career she dearly loved for 35 years. She cooked, baked and served lunches to many teachers, staff, parents, grandparents and children, including both of her daughters and granddaughter. She was known at school for making homemade cinnamon rolls, taco salad, fried chicken, cherry and apple pie, brownies, homemade dinner rolls and many other favorite foods enjoyed by so many. 

While working at St. Mary's, she also worked part time as the hostess at Jim Bob's Restaurant and cooked and served lunches and dinners on the weekends at Messenger College after leaving Jim Bob's. She also ran the restaurant at Four State Auto Auction, where her husband and oldest daughter also worked. She was a devout member of St. Mary's Catholic Church for over 60 years and also belonged to the Altar Society. Along with her friend, Betty Bishop, they cooked and cleaned for several priests at the church rectory. This was another part of her life that she dearly loved.

She married the love of her life, Tony Frank and from this union they were blessed with two daughters, Toni and Teri, and eventually a beautiful granddaughter, Paisley. In 2018, Peggy was again blessed with the birth of her great-grandson, Preston, who was born on what would have been her husband's 95th birthday. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Tony Frank, on March 19, 2002; one brother, Jim Griggsby; sister-in-law, Irma Griggsby; nephew, Herbie Griggsby; niece, Susan Wong; brother-in-law, Roy LoPresti; and sister-in-law, Mary LoPresti.

Peggy is survived by her daughters, Toni Frances Rose LoPresti, Saginaw, Missouri, Teri Marie Catherine LoPresti, Nixa, Missouri; granddaughter, (whom she called her Angel B) Paisley Jade Saranda LoPresti her fiance Samuel Craig DeBoer and her two great-grandsons, Tyler Craig DeBoer and Preston Anthony Edward DeBoer, Joplin, Missouri; nephew, Stephen Paul Griggsby (Liz), Franklinton, Louisiana; niece, Roseann LoPresti; nephews, Frank and Roy LoPresti and their families, Chicago, Illinois; and several great nieces and nephews.

Peggy loved to cook and bake for her family, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. She truly enjoyed dancing with her husband, camping at Shady Beach in Noel; playing dominoes; playing cards; working word puzzles, reading books and the newspaper and watching the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals. Whenever the weather was nice and pleasant, you would find her outside sitting in her swing. She would always go to the pool and White Water and truly enjoyed going anywhere with her family. Our mom and grandmother was truly an angel on this earth. We are all blessed to have had her in our lives. Even though she was a small lady, her love for us was and is never ending and just as strong as she was. She was the kind of woman who always put others before herself. We are so fortunate for her inspiration and guidance she provided to each of us, as we have grown through the years.

She showed us daily her love and she always told each of us, "I Love You", every time we said goodbye to her whether in person or on the phone. We never left her home without her standing outside and waving goodbye to us in any kind of weather. Peggy truly loved life as much as she loved her family. She was always so fun to be with, 'a real hoot'. We never knew what she would say next. She never really liked to smile, but her little smirk and candid remarks brought out our smiles all the time. Each one of her daughters and her granddaughter are forever in her debt for making us the strong and loving individuals we are today. She taught us to always be kind, trustworthy, act appropriately, be respectful, to stand tall and be proud. She showed us how to live and love the right way and always be in control of our lives. We love and miss her so much. Our lives will never be the same without her. When her angel wings opened to leave us, a little part of each of our hearts were on her wings. One of these days we will join her and she will return to us the little part of each of our hearts that are with her now. We will be able to have fun with her and enjoy her beautiful spirit when we see her again.

Our family sends our heartfelt and deepest thanks to Carley, Kathy, Cynthia and Jill for the many hours they compassionately took care of Peggy, watched over her and kept her safe. The family also sends deep gratitude to Avalon Hospice, especially Jessica, Kimber, Shannon and Melinda, for the wonderful and gentle care they showed to Peggy every time they were with her.

Visitation will be Saturday, June 27, 2020 at 9:00 a.m., followed by the Rosary at 9:30 a.m. and Mass at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Saginaw Cemetery. Those honoring her life as pallbearers are Samuel DeBoer, Jason Gaskill, Mike Hill, and Mike Kennedy.

Peggy requested that memorial contributions be made to St. Mary's Catholic School, in care of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary.