Word has been received of the death of Margaret Elizabeth Atkinson Whiteside Crowley of Saranac Lake, who died Tuesday March 18, 2014 in Rochester, NY.

Born the daughter of Mark t and Margaret (Clifford) Atkinson and raised in North Syracuse on June 1, 1930.

Margaret graduated from Convent High school in 1948. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from the State University of NY Oswego on January 23, 1953, and received her master’s degree of education through SUNY Potsdam.

Margaret married Richard Whiteside on November 26, 1953. She taught 1st grade in St. Regis school district in 1953 and moved to Schenectady to raise 6 children of her own while also substitute teaching. In 1973 the family moved to Dexter NY to run a lumber yard until they moved to Rainbow Lake in 1979. Margaret then taught 1st grade at Lake Clear school for ten years and continued to substitute teach after she retired from teaching in 1995. On September 29, 2000 her first husband Richard passed away. Margaret then moved to Baldwinsville where she met her 2nd husband Tom Crowley, they were married on July 31, 2004. Tom Crowley predeceased her on October 29, 2010, after which she returned to Saranac Lake to live out the rest of her days.

Margaret is survived by her 6 children, Patricia and Steve Veselka of Cohoes, NY Thomas Whiteside of Owls Head NY, Deborah and Jeff Shullette of Dexter NY, John Whiteside and his wife Donna of Baldwinsville, NY, Anne and Andy Geller of Pittsford NY, Susan McKillip of Rainbow Lake and Michael McKillip of Bloomingdale NY. Her sister Joan Coyle and her husband Bernie, her brother Bernie and Carol Atkinson and sister in law Carmel Atkinson. Step children Dennis Crowley, Maureen Crowley Gieser, Sean Crowley, Shiela Crowley, Heather Crowley and Kelly Crowley Kennedy. Margaret is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and loving friends. Margaret is predeceased by her parents, her brothers Cliff and Mark, and her husbands Richard Whiteside and Thomas Crowley.

A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 12:00 Pm on Wednesday March 26, 2014 at St. Bernard's Church, with Rev. Mark Reilly officiating. Burial will take place in Sand Hill Cemetery.

Friends wishing to remember Margaret may make memorial contributions to the Adirondack Heath Foundation in care of the funeral home.

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