After a long life of service to her community, church and family, Margaret (Peg) Olney of Mattapoisett passed away on June 15, 2025, following a brief cancer-related illness. She recently celebrated her 90th birthday. For 57 years, Peg was the beloved spouse of David Olney, who died in 2015.

Born in Bridgeport, CT, Peg was the oldest child of John M. Leask, Jr., and Margaret H. (Harris) Leask. She was raised in Fairfield, CT. After graduating from Roger Ludlowe High School in 1953, Peg attended Bates College in Lewiston, ME, receiving her B.S. degree in Biology in 1957. It was at Bates where she met Dave, when they were both working in the dining hall dish room. It was the match of a lifetime. Peg and Dave married in 1958, and first settled in New Rochelle, NY, where their three children were born. The family moved to Waltham, MA in 1973, in part to be closer to their Mattapoisett summer home that overlooks the scenic beauty of Buzzards Bay. Upon their retirement in 1995, Peg and Dave chose Mattapoisett as their year-round home.

Peg was a stay-at-home mom for many years but returned to the work force when the children reached college age. She worked in the financial services department at the Sodexo North America headquarters in Waltham.

In 2005, the New Bedford Standard-Times named Peg as Mattapoisett's Women of the Year. The headline states that "Her civic contributions seem never-ending". Indeed, that was always the case. When her children were young, Peg was a Cub Scout and Brownie troop leader, and was involved with the PTA. In retirement, Peg provided countless hours of her time in support of the Mattapoisett Women's Club, Friends of the Mattapoisett Library, the Mattapoisett Museum, and the Council on Aging.

Peg and Dave found their spiritual home at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. Peg served as church treasurer and was involved in numerous church activities. Peg and Dave shared a love for music, and for years both sang in the church choir and the Sippican Choral Society.

At home, Peg loved gardening and through the Women's Club Garden Group, maintained plantings at sites all around Mattapoisett. She also was an accomplished cook. Every year her pies were best sellers at Harbor Days. Peg was an avid reader who participated in several book groups. She was a devoted watcher of Jeopardy!

Survivors include her three children, Douglas of Brooklyn, NY, Jonathan of Tiverton, RI and Katherine and her husband David Kleinschmidt of Acton, MA. Peg's four beloved grandchildren are Maggie Olney, Caroline Olney with fiancé Christopher Steinley, T.J. Olney, and Nathan Kleinschmidt. Peg is survived by her sister, Mary Lou Carlson of Redding, CT. Her brother David Leask preceded her in death. Her extended family includes several cousins and twenty-one nephews and nieces along with their spouses and children. She will be missed by them all.

Gifts in Peg's memory may be made to the Mattapoisett Congregational Church, or to the Mattapoisett Women's Club Scholarship Fund.

Visiting hours will take place from 4 to 7 pm on Monday, June 23 at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals in Mattapoisett. A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, July 26 at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. Burial at Cushing Cemetery in Mattapoisett will be private.  For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.