ALTAMONT — Peg Button (Margaret Josephine Ward Condit Button), 72, of Altamont NY, passed away peacefully at the Good Samaritan nursing home in Delmar, NY on Friday, September 15, 2017, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on February 19, 1945 in New Bedford, MA to Edith Alice Ashworth and Fred Cushman Ward.
Peg always had an inquisitive mind and a compassionate nature, two traits that defined her path through life. She believed in fairness and equality for all, and advocated an approach to life that focused on joy, service, and leaving the world a better place.
She began piano lessons at age 3, and music became part of her legacy. While most young people had jobs flipping burgers, young Peggy began her teens as the church organist for several Christian denominations throughout the New Bedford/Dartmouth MA area. Her love of music of all kinds was a sustaining influence in her life, and a gift she passed on to her children and many who knew her.
She graduated Dartmouth High School in 1962, and went on to Amherst College, where she met her first spouse, Norman I. Condit, Jr., and from that marriage were born Christine Lee (Condit) Tice and Catherine Ashworth (Condit) (Rogers). In 1980, she married the love of her life, Arthur Frederick Button, and from that marriage was born Rebecca Julia (Button) Burnside. She is also survived by her grandchildren Jessica Lynne Tice, Leanna Christine Tice, (Maxwell) Sage(Lily) Ashworth, and Janet Alise Ashworth Rogers.
After obtaining a degree in Theater from SUNY Albany, Peg established a career with the NYS Dept. Of Taxation & Finance, finding great joy in her transition from her first role as a data entry operator to her final role as a trainer for the Total Quality Management initiative. She loved teaching and the opportunity to help people, so post-retirement she took a position as a Teaching Assistant at Guilderland High School (NY), where her ability to have a direct and positive influence on young lives gave her great satisfaction. She was also a former long-time member of the Lions Club and a current member of the Altamont Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. No matter where she went or what she did, she was the kind of person who became an indispensable friend to all who knew her.
Peg believed in magic, and embraced the idea that life was an ongoing spiritual opportunity for growth. She believed in the sacredness of the Earth, and humankind’s inter-relatedness to the planet and all life. She loved camping and spending time in nature. She found the family of her heart as an initiate of the Mystic Tradition of Owl Mountain, embraced by the extended love of so many she touched. She taught workshops on topics of personal empowerment, which also usually focused on personal responsibility. She’ll help you out, as long as you own your own s**t. She knew the path you took, where you were going, where you went wrong, and how to change course. This knowing was her great gift to all who knew her well.
She will always be remembered for her intelligence, kindness, easy-going nature, avid love of life, and goofy sense of humor. She knew how to dance, loved to “dirty dance” with her husband best of all, and was completely ready to embrace any opportunity to let joy and laughter loose on the world. She also knew how to get down to business and be serious, and she was the best and most reliable mentor a child or colleague could ever have. She was a patient guide to many life problems, and always seemed to have the right perspective needed to shift thinking in a new direction. She is dearly beloved by all she leaves behind.
Visiting Hours and a Memorial service will be held in the Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Ave., Albany, Saturday afternoon, September 23rd. Visiting hours will begin at 12:00 pm with the memorial service at 2:30 pm. Relatives and friends are invited, and may call at the funeral home Saturday. There will be a reception for friends and family afterward.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorial contributions to The Alzheimer’s Association, 800-272-3900, www.alz.org, PO Box 96011, Washington DC 20090-6011. To leave a message of remembrance or condolence for the family or obtain directions to the funeral home, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com .
Chris Claus
I knew Peg as a colleague at Guilderland High School where she managed the Herculean task of helping a severely dyslexic student manage the related challenges of reading and writing a high school curriculum designed for students who read and write well. She did it. And that student has gone on to earn both Bachelor and Master degrees…Peg would be proud and with good reason. I’m glad she passed as comfortably as possible and I’m glad her legacy survives the next generations. Rest In Peace.
Julia Waters
My favorite memories of Peg are from the Thanksgiving weekends on the mountain. Her quick wit, bright smile and story telling are things I have always treasured. Peg’s adventurous spirit took her a great many places, which she shared with all of us. I will miss her laugh most of all, Bright Blessings dear Peg, until we meet again.
Jen (Brat) Chaiken
Peg let me know that it was OK to laugh at serious things (I always did anyway) and especially in worship – she told me “that’s who you are – worship THAT!” And I do – that’s her legacy to me. Thank you Crone Lady!
Rose Wehnau
Chris, Greg and family,
My sincere sympathy on the loss of your Mom and Grandmother . May your memories of her bring you peace and comfort during this very difficult time. I remember her from my high school days when her and Art lead a search and rescue explore post that I was a member of for a short time . I will not be able to make the services on Sat. but want you to know I am thinking of you all and may the love she had for you remain in your heart now and forever.
Love,
Rose Wehnau
Suz Thackston
I’m so glad I had the opportunity to know Peg. She was a brilliant, funny, inspiring, magickal soul. I’m so sorry for her beloveds who are bereft of her physical presence. May her reunion with her noble ancestors be joyous, and may she be light and inspiration for you all until she greets you again.
Shawna Merritt
Your mother was such a kind soul and for a period of time like a second mother to me. I offer you all healing thoughts and know she will find peace. She raised some amazing, independent, confident, beautiful children and I am honored to have been a part of all of your lives even for a short amount of time.
Alan and Vicki Taylor
So very sorry for your loss
Robin Rice Lichtig
When Peggy and I first became friends back in the early 1960s in college, her sparkling smile, quick wit, and love of embracing life drew me to her. Over the years, through two marriages (for both of us) and the births of children, we remained friends. Our kids hunted for Easter eggs together for years. We visited her parents’ island get-away one in Massachusetts one summer when, after too many days of solid rain, Peg and I got in a motor boat and took our young kids to a mall on the mainland where they could run off rampant cabin fever. (As I recall Chris, Katy, Jody and Jonathan all had plastic vampire teeth which they wore while terrorizing folks at the mall.) Peggy and her family came to my daughter’s wedding in New York City. Through the years there were late nights, beer aplenty, dancing, and lots and lots of games of Scrabble. Geography made it too difficult to see each other often in recent years, but my dear friend Peggy’s smile will continue to light up our world forever.
Jill Jackson
I am so sorry to hear of your lose. Your mom was truly a unique individual and always made me feel welcome in your home. To this day I drive by the house and am reminded of so many great afternoons spent there.
Anne Continelli
I cannot think about my youth without thinking of Peg. In high school, I had two sets of “other” parents – The Heppners and the Buttons. Mommy Heppner was the conservative one – definitely full of love and care, guidance, etc., but not the one you could talk to about boys or sex.
Peg was more liberal. I recall her picking Kate and me up from a party and Kate and I telling her that we had to be careful about when to wear Jovan Musk Oil, as it was an instant aphrodisiac, and caused both of us to have massive makeout sessions with whatever boys we were into. She howled with laughter, then paused and said, “Really? It’s that good, huh? Hmm.”
I can remember every inch of that house in Altamont, where I spent lots of time immersed in interactive fiction games with Kate in the office, while Peg occasionally joined us to chat or ask if we wanted lunch. She always opened her house to us. One summer, Liz, a mutual friend, was working the Altamont Fair with Kate, and Peg and Art allowed her to live with them, sleeping on the floor of their den. This was the kind of home they had – always full of people, always welcome to kids, never annoyed with us or our silly youthful ways.
I have camped with Peg. I have had Thanksgiving dinner with Peg. And I consider myself so lucky….so very lucky to have had her as another parental figure in my life. She was always kind, always supportive, always understanding. I can still hear her laugh, and I am so happy that this joyous sound lives forever in my brain.
Peg sent forth laughter, love, and kindness into this world that still ripples today. She is still alive. Always.
Stuart Fass
I am so sorry to hear of Peg’s passing. She was an active member of our Altamont community and a fellow Guilderland Lion who brought much enthusiasm and joy to everything she did.
My sincere condolences to the whole family.
Gillen and Gladys O'Brien
We knew Peg from her work with the Lions Club and especially her concern for the scholarships given to hearing impaired kids at Guilderland High.
Our condolences to the family.
Gillen and Gladys O’Brien
Colette Gallagher
I am so sorry to hear the passing of Peg. I had the pleasure of working with her for several years at Guilderland High School. I always enjoyed hearing about her trips to visit friends and traveling in her camper. She will be missed.
Nathan Smith
Sorry to hear of Peg’s passing. My deep condolences to the family.
Tina & Stephen
Salty. Magical. Wise. Peg left a mark on many lives. I hope she’s dancing naked with her ancestors, drumming and laughing while she keeps the firestorm for those who will follow in her footsteps.
Tracey Continelli
I am *so* sorry for your loss. Peg was a wonderful woman and a bright light in this world. In the many pictures at the Memorial Service, light actually appears to radiate from her, especially her face. She lived a full life and unabashedly loved and helped a lot of people. Many of us will not be as successful in those accomplishments as Peg was. My deepest condolences.
Danica Lyons-Genese (niki)
My memories of Peg are filled with laughter and that wonderful smile she had, and love. much love. From 6th thru college years she was a second Mother to me and I was very lucky to have her. I will hold her in my heart.
I’m very sorry for your loss Kate. Hugs
Maeghan & Ian
We can easily recall the first time we met Peg. Our first impression was of someone who was full of light and laughter. She had a glow that radiated from deep within. Conversations with her were always enjoyable. She was funny, intriguing, and had an incredible love of life. We will always remember her with a deep fondness.