Margaret Gertrude Malpass

South Portland - Margaret G. Malpass, 85, passed away on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at Maine Medical Center. Margaret was born in Portland on August 26, 1937, a daughter of the late James and Marie (Thunberg) Downs. She was raised in South Portland and graduated from South Portland High School, Class of 1955. While she was in high school, Margaret was involved in a car accident with a moose. As scary and as difficult as this situation can be, she was fortunate to have the help of a good samaritan, Donald Malpass. Don was with his family driving down the road, came across the accident, and was able to help Margaret. However, once Don and Margaret met, Don was more interested in developing a relationship and intentionally left his hat in Margaret's car so he would be forced to call her the following day. The rest is history. Margaret and Don were married in 1956 and began their family on the foundations of faith and love. Raising their children in South Portland, Margaret's primary focus throughout her life was providing their kids with a wonderful childhood. After all of her kids began high school, Margaret re-entered the work force, working with Porteous, Mitchell and Braun for several years before working as an auditor with Ford Motor Credit. After retirement, she worked seasonally with L.L. Bean. Throughout her life, Margaret enjoyed being active in her family and community. Her and Don enjoyed square dancing, she was active in ALSAC, now apart of St. Jude's Children's Hospital, she loved to cook, was a veracious reader, an active member of the Women's Group at St. John the Evangelist Parish in South Portland, and she enjoyed playing "Words with Friends". However, the source of her enjoyment throughout life came from family. Whether it was volunteering as a Den Mother in the Cub Scouts, putting a crying baby to sleep, traveling with her family, hosting all of the major family gatherings for the holidays, being active in her grandchildren's lives, or simply cooking for her children and grandchildren, family was at the center of everything Margaret did. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She will be deeply missed. In addition to her parents, Margaret is predeceased by her husband Donald Malpass; son, Dennis Malpass; brother, Thomas Downs; sister, Ellen Griffin. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Hebert and husband Dan of Gray; son, Donald Malpass and wife Rosemary of Auburn; grandchildren, Cody Malpass of Auburn and Kayleen Taylor Malpass of Nashua; siblings, Doris Valente and husband Tom of Westbrook, Marie Brazil of California, Geraldine Merrill and husband John of Portland, Carl Thunberg of Connecticut. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Visiting Hours celebrating Margaret's Life will be held on Thursday, October 27 from 4-6PM at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Prayers will be recited at the funeral home on Friday, October 28 at 9:15AM followed by a 10AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland. To view Margaret's memorial page or to share a condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com. The Mass of Christian Burial will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/conroytullywalker. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Raising Readers by donating to MaineHealth, Attn: Raising Readers, 110 Free Street, Portland, Maine 04101