Margaret Angelo

Margaret Shamy Angelo, 81, of Orange and Delray Beach, Florida, beloved wife of Richard, passed away peacefully at her Orange home in the arms of her family on November 16, 2020. She was the daughter of Lebanese immigrants, Elias Shamy and Jamelie Boutros-Shamy.

Raised in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Margaret was the fourth of five children. Despite limited means, her childhood home was happily rambunctious and filled with a deep love that continued among Margaret’s siblings throughout her life. Margaret was a stellar student at St. Peter’s High School yet delayed college due to her family’s financial situation. She excelled in her first job at Personal Products, her typing skills honed to a legendary status in the family. In 1957, she met Richard Angelo and it was love at first sight for both. They married eighteen months later and in the ensuing seven years, they created a family of six with Margaret at home and Richard running the busy Angelo Pharmacy. Margaret instilled in her children a drive for excellence and a tenacious work ethic all accompanied by her signature infectious laugh and style. With her youngest children in grammar school, Margaret revived her dream of a college education, achieving an English degree with high honors from Douglass College. An English teacher at Edison High School for twenty years, Margaret’s passion and personality captured her students’ hearts and minds. She mentored the school’s Odyssey of the Mind team to great success and her fierce commitment resulted in her many students achieving their college dreams. Margaret was also an author and wrote a book about her mother's life titled Jamelie, Jamelie that was published in 2001. The book is a testament to her mother and a family history as well as an affirmation of faith and family as life's guideposts.

Retirement was the next joyful chapter of Margaret’s life. With her children succeeding and ten grandchildren thriving, Richard and Margaret created a new life at their winter home in Florida. The tennis courts were the perfect venue for Margaret’s athletic skills and competitive spirit and the sport brought both Margaret and Richard much enjoyment. As was typical, Margaret made lasting friendships in her new home, her natural warmth, laughter, and curiosity always touching everyone she met.

Margaret is survived by her husband, Richard; her children Richard, Lori, Karen (Frank Fortunati) and Steven (Tracey LeMay); her beloved grandchildren (who affectionately knew Margaret as “Siti”); her siblings Marilyn Librizzi (Joseph), Catherine Lonski (Gene) and Peter Shamy (Pat) and their spouses and her nieces and nephews. Margaret is predeceased by her parents and her brother Joseph Shamy.

All services will be private at this time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Smilow Cancer Hospital at http://www.closertofree.com/honor-a-loved-one.aspx or St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/about-st-jude/faq/how-do-i-make-a-donation-in-honor-or-memory-of-someone.html.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Margaret Angelo, please visit our Tree Store.