WILDWOOD CREST — Crest Memorial School will be closed on April 20 to give staff and students the opportunity to attend the funeral of long-time teacher Margaret Rowland.

Rowland, known to her friends and coworkers as Peggy and her students as Ms. Ciglinsky, died on April 14 at age 48.

A public viewing will be help on April 19 at 7 p.m. at Radzieta Funeral Home, located at 9 Hand Avenue in Cape May Court House. On April 20 funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. at Griffith Funeral Chapel, located 520 Chester Pike in Norwood, Pa.

Rowland was born in Chester, Pa. and attended East Stroudsburg University and Widener University earning a master’s degree in education.

She taught at the Crest Memorial School for 20 years, most recently as a fourth-grade teacher. In addition to her teaching career, Rowland was known to many in the community for her fundraising and charitable endeavors.

Principal Ann-Maria Guevara said that the decision to close to the school gives the staff time to honor their friend and colleague.

“Every person in the building benefited from Peggy’s openness and generosity and she will be deeply missed,” said Guevara.

Terry Matthews, who taught with Rowland during her tenure at the school, said her good friend had an infectious laugh that could be heard in the school.

“You could hear Peggy a mile away when she was laughing and it always made you stop what you were doing and smile,” Matthews said.

Melissa Raucci remembers Rowland first as her teacher and then as a coworker.

“Peggy was always the first one there to lend a hand or volunteer her time. She would lay down in traffic for anyone especially her friends,” Raucci said. “She was really the heart and soul of CMS. We are all better people for knowing her and she is truly irreplaceable”

Matthews also said Rowland had a deep commitment to her students and would have something positive to say to each child every day. Matthews said that even if students didn’t have her as a teacher, they knew her as “the snack lady.”

“She always had snacks waiting,” Matthews said. “My son, Brandon, would stop by her room every day to get some candy on his way to my room and he always came back with fistfuls.”

In addition to her work at the school, Matthews said that Rowland’s children, Maggie and John “were truly the lights in her world.”

“She was loyal, honest, and a pillar of strength,” Matthews said of Rowland and noted that she loved to have fun. “She was the most giving and loving soul.”

Rowland is survived by her children Maggie and John, her mother Margaret, brother James Jr. and sister Barbara of Lakeland and nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Margaret’s name to the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware, 1901 Rockland Road, Wilmington, Del. 19803.

 

Written by: Lauren Suit can be e-mailed at lauren.suit@catamaranmedia.com or you can comment on this story at shorenewstoday.com.