Margaret Chiarky Descheemaeker

Margaret Chiarky Descheemaeker, 98 years old, returned to her heavenly home on Wednesday, July 15, 2015. Margaret was a lifelong resident of Hopewell. She was the daughter of Dorothy and George Chiarky and was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Georgette Descheemaeker McClung; and all of her seven Chiarky siblings: George, John, Matthew, Paul, Dorothy Smith, Helen Belcher, and Sophie Pentecost. Margaret is survived by one daughter, Clemence Descheemaeker Stephen of Havre de Grace, Maryland; her dearly beloved nieces, Marlene Pentecost Waymack and Earlene Pentecost Sprouse; three grandchildren: Gregory E. Stephen of Baltimore, Maryland, Alison Stephen and husband Troy McCullough of Hong Kong, William McClung of Richmond; and one great-grandchild, Theo Stephen McCullough of Hong Kong; and numerous loving nieces and nephews. Margaret was born January 18, 1917 in her family home on Grant Street. She attended one of the early elementary schools, which was on 3 ½ Street, where when it rained, the children had to put out buckets to catch the rain from the leaky roof. Margaret remembers walking from 24th Avenue to 3 ½ Street no matter what the weather might be. She attended Hopewell High School where she graduated in 1934. In the midst of the severe depression, Margaret went to work first for the Carpenters Union making $2.50 a week; she later found a job in a silk mill on Bank Street in Petersburg. While working at the mill, Margaret attended Spotswood Business School on Sycamore Street. She attended school from 9 AM to 12 noon and then worked at the silk mill from 3 PM to 11 PM. She caught the street car from Petersburg to Hopewell and after arriving in Hopewell, walked to her 24th Avenue & Grant Street home. Margaret continued to work at the silk mill because she made $26.00 a week. During the depression this was a good salary. Years later she obtained a full-time position at Fort Lee, where she spent thirty years doing work in accounting. She was rewarded for the outstanding job she did with promotions and several awards. After a long and dedicated career, she retired in 1983. After her retirement she began oil painting, a hobby she loved. She created many beautiful paintings which she shared with family and friends. During her long life, Margaret was never idle. Believing in the power of hard work and good deeds, she helped many individuals over her long life and was involved in helping to raise two nieces, Marlene and Earlene as well as her grandson William. Margaret took care of her elderly mother in her later days. God gave her this mission in life and she accepted the mission given with grace. She was a member of West End Presbyterian Church. She leaves many family and friends to cherish her memory, including her little dog Coco who was devoted to her. The family will receive friends at the Hopewell Chapel of J.T. Morriss and Son Funeral Home on Sunday, July 19, 2015 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 2:00 PM. Interment will follow at Appomattox Cemetery. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .