Margaret Ellen Bagos

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dear mother, first teacher, supporter and confidante, Margaret Bagos, 95, who was called home on March 15, 2022. Born in 1926 to strong Irish-Catholic immigrants, the late James and Mary Ellen (Spollen) Sexton, she was the eldest of nine followed by four sisters and four brothers. As you can imagine, and her stories testify, life for her and her family was no “crystal stair” (words taken from Mother to Son by Langston Hughes). It had tacks in it, splinters, torn-up boards and bare floors. But they kept “a climbin’ on and reachin’ landin’s and turnin’ corners, and sometimes goin’ in the dark where there ain’t been no light”. They didn’t turn back, sit down on the steps, or fall because they found life “kinder hard”. They learned and encouraged all of us to “keep goin’ honey, keep climbin’” to the very end and this is what Margaret did. Margaret was a strong-willed woman. She loved her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchild deeply. She took on what she viewed as unjust causes and showed us how to fight for things that mattered despite her limited educational background and lack of eloquent speech. She won some very significant legal matters at the State level, proudly earned herself a picture on the front page of the newspaper hugging a tree and titled “Joan of Arc of Wanda Park”! She led by example and always encouraged us to fight for what we believed. We are proud to be her children and proud of the valuable lessons she taught us. The latest lesson proved to be her best as she endured a very prolonged state of physical debility which was foreign to her. There were times when she begged to have it end but then never gave in. We would witness her blessing herself when she was unable to speak and in her agonal state. Her siblings would attest that saying her rosary was a devotion she was taught as a child and Margaret returned to this devotion when she was ill. She never quit praying and meditating on the life of Christ who endured ultimate suffering for us. Today I believe and imagine that Margaret is still climbin’, still goin’ but now IS on that crystal stair. She is being led by our Beautiful Virgin Mother, Mary, hand in hand, where there are no tacks, splinters, or torn-up boards. She is no longer suffering and is basking in the light of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who is guiding her way. Let us all continue to hold her in our hearts and keep on climbin’ and prayin’ here in this Valley of Tears as she and He have taught us. We must never sit down “cuz life is kinder hard”. We must continue our climb until we, too, see the light of Jesus Christ, our Lord. She will be painfully missed by all who knew her; and as Father Michael Quaine (her favorite Irish priest) would say, by those who could endure her sometimes brutal “Irish sass”! Margaret was preceded in death by her loving husband, Andrew Bagos. They were married in 1947, and celebrated 62 years of loving devotion until he was called by the Lord in June of 2010. She is survived by her four children: George Bagos (Dorothy Smith), James (Deborah) Bagos, Shawn (Liisa) Bagos, and Maura Lynn (Peter Saracino) Bagos-Saracino. Her twelve grandchildren include Ryan (Jessie) Bagos, Megan Bagos, Kalian (Lynsey) Bagos, Katie Kirkpatrick, Jaime (Elizabeth) Bagos, (Amanda Teeter), Chelsea Bagos, John Bagos, Noah Bagos, Jonah Bagos, Anthony Saracino, Peter Joseph (PJ) Saracino, and Shane Saracino. Margaret’s eleven great grandchildren are Jackson Bagos, Jameson Bagos, Kalian Bagos, Margaret (Maggie) Bagos, Joshua Kirkpatrick, Kiley Kirkpatrick, Alexander Kirkpatrick, Andi Luellen, Taylor Bagos, Annabelle Bagos and McKenna Bagos. She was also blessed with one great, great grandchild, Parker Rappa. She is survived by her living siblings: Patrick (the late Rose) Sexton, Theresa (Dave) Valentine, and John (the late Judy) Sexton. The following siblings preceded her in death: Mary (the late Herbert) Goewey, Kathleen (the late Richard) Lee, Nancy (the late Frank) Ceane, James (Nancy) Sexton, and Thomas (Betty) Sexton. Margaret will also be remembered by many loving nieces and nephews too numerous to mention. May God reward and bless richly all of you who cared to comfort and befriend Margaret and all of the elderly who are often forgotten. Remember the words of our Lord, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40) In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Smile Train, or a charity of your choosing. A special thank you is given to Hana and Antoinette Joseph, and Mary Jane Espere of East West Home Care, and Marie Stock for their unfailing and tireless compassion.

Margaret Ellen Bagos

December 17, 1926 - March 15, 2022