Peggy Whalen

Peggy Whalen, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died peacefully on January 8, 2013, after a long illness. She lived at Elant at Brandywine in Briarcliff Manor for several years. She was two days short of her ninetieth birthday.

She was born in 1923 to Mary (Zaretska) and Andrew Chytilo. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 55 years, Frank J. Whalen, Jr., as well as her brothers Stephen and Donald Chytilo. Peggy is survived by her daughter Stephanie Cosgrove (Jerry) of Hawthorne, NY and her grandchildren - Stacey Lange (Robert) of Chestnut Ridge, Tim Cosgrove of San Francisco, CA, and Terry Cosgrove (Kelsey) of Exeter, NH. She was also the proud great-grandmother of Sophia and Abigail Lange, and Owen and Brooks Cosgrove.

Peggy left her hometown of Fall River, MA after her marriage in 1945, and lived most of her life in Cheverly, MD. She taught school for two years, but then found her real vocation in her favorite volunteer activities. She was an active volunteer for decades with the National Symphony Orchestra and Prince George's Hospital Center. Most important to her was "The Tennis Group," which she founded at the age of 50. About a dozen of her dearest friends met Thursday mornings for 30 years to play tennis, share joys and sorrows, and eat her renowned egg salad sandwiches.

Visitation will be Wednesday, January 23, 2013, 6-8 at Gasch's Funeral Home at 4739 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD. Interment will take place at Cheltenham Veteran's Cemetery on January 24. Memorial contributions may be sent to the National Symphony Orchestra, 2700 F St NW Washington, DC 20566, or Elant at Brandywine, 620 Old Sleepy Hollow Rd, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10570.

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