Obituary of Margaret O. Blake

Margaret O. Blake of Darien, CT died peacefully on October 24, 2008 after a long and full life. Mrs. Blake, widow of the late Bertram Thorp Blake Jr. of Darien, is survived by four children: her daughters, Catherine McLean Sperry of New Canaan; Nancy Matheny Baldwin of Hilton Head, SC; Elizabeth Blake Goss of Darien; and her son, Bertram Thorp Blake III of Norwalk. She was predeceased by her daughter, Margaret Blake Mills of New Canaan. She is survived by twenty grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren. Margaret O'Rourke Blake was born on April 6, 1919 in Des Moines, IA to John [Bernard] and Margaret [Stark] O'Rourke, whose ancestors (Fitzwaters) came to Philadelphia with William Penn in 1682 on the ship "Welcome". A member of the National Society of Colonial Dames of Connecticut, "Peggy" was also the granddaughter of Ellen Long Rourke, who led the charge in establishing women's and children's labor laws in the state of Iowa, and grand niece of Frederick W. Lehmann, United States Solicitor General under President Taft. Mrs. Blake was a graduate of Smith College, Class of 1940. A long time resident of Darien since 1960, Mrs. Blake was politically active locally for many years by serving on Representative Town Meeting committees and was instrumental in the town acquiring Cherry Lawn as park land. The family will hold a private memorial service at St. Luke's chapel and columbarium in Darien. In lieu of flowers, the family will appreciate contributions in her memory to Hospice Care at the Rosenthal Clinic in Stamford, CT. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820