Margaret “Maggie” Gallagher Oliver, Age 77, of Butte

In the early morning of August 6^th, 2024, Maggie passed away at her home in Butte, MT surrounded by the love of her family and her caretaker from Congestive Heart Failure. Maggie was 77 years old.

Maggie was born on February 19, 1947 in Hudson, NY. She was the 4^th daughter born out of 6 girls to parents Aleck and Priscilla Klopotov. Maggie grew up in Center Moriches, New York, on her family’s property where she spent many days running around, and climbing trees. When she was about 10 years old she met her lifelong best friend Suzanne. Maggie was a tomboy growing up, liked to get dirty and climb trees. Even though she was tomboy she had a sassy side to her as well. Maggie graduated from Center Moriches High School in 1966.

Maggie lived in several states throughout her life, some of those states included Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia, and her latest was Montana, but New York on the island was always home to her. It was in New York where she gave birth to two beautiful girls named Denise and Dannielle. Being a mother was one of her greatest blessings in life.

Maggie worked hard to provide for her family throughout the years, working numerous customer service jobs, and she was lucky to have two places that she absolutely loved working at. She worked at Amtrak Auto Train in Lorton, VA for about 10 years, where she made a lot of friends, got to travel back and forth on the train from Virginia to New York with her granddaughter, before she decided to move back to New York. When Maggie moved back to Center Moriches she worked at Waldbaums in the Deli department, where she quickly found herself a part of a work family, and had many close friends that she would spend time with outside of work.

Maggie had many hobbies and activities that she enjoyed over the years. In her young adult years she enjoyed singing in the Church Choir. To relax she enjoyed reading and crocheting, and giving her finished crochet projects to others. I don’t think she ever kept any of her own projects, and if you said that you liked something that she made she was more than happy to give her project to you. You could often find her working on a puzzle, especially if they involved ships or lighthouses. During the winter months she looked forward to going to upstate New York to go snowmobiling with her sisters. During the summer months she looked forward to her grandchildren visiting and showing her grandchildren how to fish and crab. Crabbing was something that us grandchildren always looked forward to doing with our Grandmother. Those were some of her favorite memories down at the dock with her grandchildren.

Over the past 10 years she enjoyed being close to her great grandchildren, and getting to know them. She enjoyed cooking French Onion Soup, and other goodies for the neighbors, and teaching her first and only great granddaughter how to make her favorite Lace Cookies. Maggie looked forward to spending summers with the great grandchildren camping, and fishing. Maggie loved every moment that she was able to spend with her family and friends making memories.

Maggie was preceded in death by her parents, Aleck and Priscilla Klopotov; and her sisters, Carrel Ball, and Yelena Kornbluth.

Maggie is survived by her daughters, Denise (William) Powell, and Dannielle (Timothy) Chrisman; her sisters, Maria Poston, Barbara Brown, and Alice (Steven) King; her grandchildren, Lara (Brandon) Robinson, Jessica (Raymond) Bernstein, Caitlin Powell, Morgan Lowry, Jeremy Powell, Elisabeth Powell, Brianna (David) Morris, Tom (Andrea) Chrisman; along with her Great Grandchildren, Chyanne Robinson, Ryder Robinson, Greyson Robinson, Travis Morris, Jack Morris, Jessie Chrisman, Hunter Chrisman, Korbin Chrisman, Bryce Chrisman, and Carson Chrisman; and by several nieces and nephews, and many friends that she considered family.

Maggie will be having a memorial service at St Johns Catholic Church in Center Moriches, New York, on Friday August 23rd at 10:30am, with reception to follow. Maggie wishes to have her ashes spread with her family at a private location.

The family would like to thank Samantha Martinez for taking care of their beloved Mother, Grandmother, Sister, and friend over the last two months. Maggie loved and cared about Samantha deeply, and we know that she would not have been happy with anyone else taking care of her. Also, thank you to Honeybee Hospice who helped with care in Maggie’s final days.

Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Maggie.

Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services is privileged to care for Maggie and her family.