Obituary of Margaret Anna Richardson

Margaret Richardson (Bednar) Margaret Anna Richardson (Bednar) - known by many simply as "Peg" or "Peggy" - a loving, proud, and colorful mother of nine, died on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 5, 2002, at the Bradford Regional Medical Center after a difficult 16-month illness. A lifelong resident of southwestern New York and northwestern Pennsylvania, Peg was born in Olean (NY) on Aug. 1, 1929. She was the first daughter of the late Josephine and Robert Lyle Richardson. Raised as a child by her late aunt and uncle Sarah and John Messer of Bolivar (NY), Peg was a graduate of the former St. Elizabeth's Academy in Allegany and of Olean High School. She briefly attended the former Nazareth College in Kalamazoo, MI, as well as Nazareth College in Rochester, NY, before receiving her bachelor's degree from St. Bonaventure University in 1952. In June of that year, she married Michael J. Bednar, with whom she had nine children. After divorcing in the 1970s, she devoted her life to raising her family as a single parent with the support of several loved ones. She ultimately returned to St. Bonaventure as a non-traditional-aged student and earned her master's degree in 1983. She was an occasional substitute teacher and pianist in the Olean area. In the 1990s, after her children were grown, she resided in both Olean and Bradford (PA). Most recently and until her illness, she lived on West Henley Street in Olean and attended St. Mary of the Angels Church. A woman of deep faith, she was extremely proud to be the mother of a priest in the Diocese of Buffalo - Rev. Merrick J. Bednar - who predeceased her in 1997 at age 33 after surviving both a heart transplant (1986) and a bone marrow transplant (1996). Her survivors - and greatest joy of her life - are her children: Michele of Allegany; Michael (Vickie) of Pittsboro, NC; Mark (Debbie) of Myrtle Beach, SC; Mitchell (Eileen) of Elkridge, MD; Maggie (Alan) Copeland of Bradford; Mollie (John) Jayne of Olean; Martial (Barb) of Webster, NY; and her newly married daughter, Maura (Greg) Parda of Newburyport, MA. She also is survived by two loving brothers and one dear sister: Jack Richardson of Encinitas, CA; Carl ("Jeep") Richardson of Allegany; and Patricia ("Pat") Davis of North Tonawanda, NY - as well as 11 wonderful grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two sisters (Paula Milks and Mary Frances "Mimi" Nardolillo) and one brother (Robert "Moe" Richardson). Friends will be received at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home (3128 W. State Rd., Olean) from 3-7 p.m. Sunday, December 8. A mass of Christian burial and celebration of Peg's life will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 9, at the St. Bonaventure University Chapel in Olean, with burial near her beloved son's grave at St. Bonaventure Cemetery. Memorials, if desired, can be made to the Bradford Hospital Foundation or to one of the three "Fr. Merrick Bednar Scholarship Funds" previously established at Archbishop Walsh High School (Olean, NY), Cardinal O'Hara High School (Tonawanda, NY) or St. Bernadette's Church (Orchard Park, NY).