Margaret Kishton

Margaret "Peggy" Cancilla Kishton, 75, of Wilmington, NC and formerly of Columbus, OH and Erie, PA, passed away peacefully in the company of her loving family, on Wednesday March 20, 2024.

Peggy was born in Erie on September 24, 1948, a daughter of the late Paul F. and Jean Louise Laska Cancilla. She graduated from Villa Maria Academy and earned her BA from Mercyhurst College. She went on to dedicate her professional life to education, working as a teacher for over 50 years including several years teaching in Columbus, Ohio and 40 years with the New Hanover County School District in North Carolina. She was recognized as the New Hanover County Teacher of the Year twice during her career, reflecting her love of teaching and dedication to helping children learn. She took special joy in helping children learn to read and loved her students as if they were her own children. Peggy met many of her best, lifelong friends while teaching, and highly valued their companionship and support.

Nothing was more important to Peggy than her family. She was a devoted daughter to her parents Paul and Jean and was the eldest of five children. She loved each of her siblings deeply and was a loving aunt to her nieces and nephews. Peggy was an excellent mother to her son Rigel. Perhaps her greatest joy in life was becoming a grandmother, first to Lana Kishton, and then more recently to Mara Kishton. She enjoyed spending time with her granddaughters, and they always brought out her smile.

Peggy was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wilmington, NC and loved walking on the beach, reading fiction and nonfiction books, flowers, and her dog Roxy. Peggy was known for her kindness and compassion to people from all walks of life. She will be dearly missed.

Peggy fought a long battle against an aggressive form of cancer, a challenge she faced with seemingly limitless inner strength. Although the cancer ultimately took her away from her family and friends, her tenacity in the face of this terrible disease was remarkable.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her brother in law, John "Jake" Pittock.

Peggy is survived by her son, Rigel Kishton (Kelly Ann) of Foster City, CA; two grandchildren, Lana and Mara Kishton; three sisters, Linda Erven (James) of Erie, Paulette "Polly" LePore (Joseph) of Erie, and Mary Jo "Jody" Pittock of Wattsburg; one brother, Paul F. Cancilla III (Cathy) of Erie; her stepmother, Helen Kubinski Thiemann Cancilla, of Erie; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends in Wilmington, NC

Funeral services and burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. Funeral arrangements were made by the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., Erie, 16504.

Memorial contributions can be made to Reading is Fundamental, a charity dedicated to helping disadvantaged students learn to read. https://secure.rif.org/page/51836/donate/1.

.