HAYES, MARGARET P., age 90, of Avalon, NJ died on Friday, May 19, 2017. She was born in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, the daughter of the late Felice and Maria Grosso Pelissero.
Margaret was a summer resident for many years prior to moving permanently to Avalon in 1990, coming from State College, PA where she lived for thirty two years.
She was a musician for all of her life starting her formal study at age 11 and professionally when she was 12 years old singing opera arias on public radio in Pittsburgh, PA. She graduated from Clairton HS then attended the Pittsburgh Music Institute and launched her professional career by winning several prestigious vocal competitions. She trained in NYC under a Ruud Foundation scholarship, sharing quarters with Florence Henderson, then trained at Tanglewood alongside Leonard Bernstein, Leontyne Price and Shirley Fontaine. She auditioned with the Metropolitan Orchestra and sang in opera productions in numerous theaters in NYC. While living in State College, she was selected to the elite Pro-Nobis, was a leading artist and director with the Opera Society and a featured soloist and recorded artist in many performance venues including 25 years with the Little German Band in which her husband played trombone, and with Pennsylvania State University choruses. She was a vocal coach and teacher in Washington, DC and with the State College Music Academy. She was fluent in French, Italian and also sang in German, and played piano.
In Avalon, Margaret was an active member of her church and sang with its choir; the Avalon Performing Arts Committee; Avalon Garden Club; CRMC hospital auxiliary; and Avalon Senior Citizens Organization. She played with several bridge groups, bowled with the Avalon League for many years, was an avid gardener and amazing cook. She worked for 17 years at the Green Cuisine as a hostess, retiring just last summer.
Margaret is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Samuel Richard, with whom she toured throughout Europe while her husband served aboard a cruiser in the Mediterranean; and by their two daughters and sons-in-law, and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Private services will be at the Radzieta Funeral Home, 9 Hand Avenue, Cape May Court House, NJ, with private burial in the Cape May County Veterans Cemetery. Memorials in Margaret’s name may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Avalon; Friends of the Avalon Volunteer Fire Department; or Wetlands Institute. Condolences at www.radzieta.com.
Margaret was a summer resident for many years prior to moving permanently to Avalon in 1990, coming from State College, PA where she lived for thirty two years.
She was a musician for all of her life starting her formal study at age 11 and professionally when she was 12 years old singing opera arias on public radio in Pittsburgh, PA. She graduated from Clairton HS then attended the Pittsburgh Music Institute and launched her professional career by winning several prestigious vocal competitions. She trained in NYC under a Ruud Foundation scholarship, sharing quarters with Florence Henderson, then trained at Tanglewood alongside Leonard Bernstein, Leontyne Price and Shirley Fontaine. She auditioned with the Metropolitan Orchestra and sang in opera productions in numerous theaters in NYC. While living in State College, she was selected to the elite Pro-Nobis, was a leading artist and director with the Opera Society and a featured soloist and recorded artist in many performance venues including 25 years with the Little German Band in which her husband played trombone, and with Pennsylvania State University choruses. She was a vocal coach and teacher in Washington, DC and with the State College Music Academy. She was fluent in French, Italian and also sang in German, and played piano.
In Avalon, Margaret was an active member of her church and sang with its choir; the Avalon Performing Arts Committee; Avalon Garden Club; CRMC hospital auxiliary; and Avalon Senior Citizens Organization. She played with several bridge groups, bowled with the Avalon League for many years, was an avid gardener and amazing cook. She worked for 17 years at the Green Cuisine as a hostess, retiring just last summer.
Margaret is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Samuel Richard, with whom she toured throughout Europe while her husband served aboard a cruiser in the Mediterranean; and by their two daughters and sons-in-law, and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Private services will be at the Radzieta Funeral Home, 9 Hand Avenue, Cape May Court House, NJ, with private burial in the Cape May County Veterans Cemetery. Memorials in Margaret’s name may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Avalon; Friends of the Avalon Volunteer Fire Department; or Wetlands Institute. Condolences at www.radzieta.com.
End Date: Sat, 01 Jul 2017 00:00:00 -0400
