Margaret "Peggy" Gillespie Albertsen

Margaret Gillespie Beard Albertsen (Peggy), originally from Sudlersville, passed away after a brief illness on December 4, 2025, at University of Maryland Shore Regional Medical Center in Easton. Her three daughters and a longtime family friend were at her bedside. She was predeceased by her husband Hans Carl Albertsen, her parents Victor Power and Juliet Stevens Gillespie, and her older brother Edward Stevens Gillespie. Peggy was born at the then new Kent and Queen Anne's Hospital in Chestertown on May 10, 1936. She was a graduate of St. Mary’s Seminary and University of Maryland, College Park. Peggy taught Home Economics at Centreville Middle School before retiring in the early 1990s. She loved to entertain family and friends. She was an avid bridge player and took pleasure in reading, sewing, and doing jigsaw puzzles. Rehoboth Beach was always a favorite place. She regularly attended productions at the Dupont Theater in Wilmington and at Church Hill Theater, where she had watched movies with her grandfather as a child. She and her husband, Hans, whom she married in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1986, enjoyed traveling, sailing, and croquet. Their travels led to many new adventures. They went hot air ballooning, white water rafting, sailboarding, and snow skiing. She shared her adventurous spirit with her grandchildren, taking them on both individual and family trips. Peggy even tried parasailing with them in Cancun, of which she said, “I’m glad I did it, but I won’t do it again.” Later in life, she enjoyed traveling and spending time with her good friend Herb Friedman. She had been active in the Altar Guild of the Emmanual Episcopal Church and volunteered with the Ladies Auxiliary of the Chestertown Hospital, the Women’s League of Washington College, and Homeports. Her quest for learning made her a Friend of the Kent County Public Library and a participant in Washington College’s Academy of Lifelong Learning. She is survived by her daughters, Juliet Smith of Chestertown, MD, Betsy Stillings (John) of Seattle, WA, and Leslie Beard of Chestertown, MD; her three grandchildren, Hillary Smith (Aaron Fienberg) of Irvine, CA, Evan Stillings of Seattle, WA, and Logan Stillings (Natalie), also of Seattle; three beautiful great-granddaughters, Callisto, Leonie, and Annika Fienberg; and her beloved dog, Harris. She will also be fondly remembered by her many nieces and nephews and wonderful friends. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Peggy's memory to the Kent County Public Library, 408 High St, Chestertown MD or The Animal Care Shelter of Kent County, 10168 Worton Rd, Chestertown MD.

Margaret "Peggy" Gillespie Albertsen

May 10, 1936 - December 4, 2025