Margie (Maule) Tarpy

Margie Tarpy (nee Maule), 77, September 3, 2022. Pre-deceased by son, John Dalton, Jr., husband John Dalton, Sr., husband Gene Tarpy. Loving mother of Margi Dalton, dear sister of George Maule (Fran), John Maule (Lin), Kathy Lawrynkiewicz (John) and Linda Ryba; also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Margie was an amazing woman whose take on life was "just live it," and she did. She had so much charisma, people were drawn to her. She savored every moment. She celebrated life every day, always laughing and joking. Everyone wanted Margie at their parties because SHE WAS THE PARTY!

Margie was happily married to my dad, John Dalton, for 40 years until he passed at 60. They had two children, me (Margi) and Johnny. When she was pregnant with me, they attended a wedding. She was doing the "shimmy," a popular dance at the time. She danced so well that her aunts said, "My God, she's going to shimmy that baby right out of her!" During their marriage, they always had a pool. They were way ahead of their time in the 70's in a little row house in Philly. Anyone who knew Margie can picture her in a pool with a cold beverage! Of course, she never got her hair wet, too vain for that! In later years, they went on cruises. She and dad won an international dance contest! The prize was only a bottle of rum, but it's all about the bragging rights!

Margie found love again when she married Gene Tarpy. She retired, and they were happily married for 15 years, enjoying their golden years until he passed. They adopted a dog and walked him in the park every day. They went down the shore, to car shows, concerts in the park and a few cruises. Their favorite thing was dancing at Lyrics. They were very good together! So good, she won another contest! They were crowned King and Queen of the "Senior Prom." Only a Burger King crown but  more bragging rights!

Mom was very resilient. She experienced loss in her life but never let it get her down. At 74-years-old, she moved into an apartment by the river and lived by herself for the first time in her life. What did she do? Make friends with everyone! She loved it there. She'll be remembered hanging with the neighbors by the river, walking around the complex or sitting on her patio drinking a glass of wine. 

Margie was a social butterfly who told the most hilarious stories. She was known for exaggerating, which made them even better. She loved socializing. She spent many St. Patrick's Days celebrating with the O'Donnells and many Memorial Days with the Newsomes. She was a big fan of the Mummers Parade too!

Mom was very talented, and she loved to be creative. She could sing, was a good artist, could sew well and had quite the imagination. She always handmade costumes for my brother and me for school plays and Halloween. Ours were always the best. The teachers would ask to keep them and enlist her help for the following year. She relished doing it! When I was in the Majorettes, she helped make the uniforms and walked in every parade with us. When you went to visit her homes during the holidays, you always knew which one was hers. The one that was decorated over the top!

Margie was very close with her four siblings, and she was the central figure. They called her the Matriarch, which she loved. She loved going to dinner with them and just hanging out. How they would talk about the old days growing up and laugh and laugh. She always looked forward to their company and loved them very much.

Margie was one of a kind, who will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Think of her smiling and laughing. That's how she'd want to be remembered.

Funeral services were private.

Arrangements by Hollen Funeral Home, Inc., Thomas J. Fluehr, Funeral Director, 3160 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114, 215-698-2500, www.hollenfuneralhome.com. 

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