Obituary of Margaret M. Shovak

Margaret M. Shovak March 20, 1931 – June 14, 2023 Margaret Mary McGrath, 92, of Travis, Staten Island, NY, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. Margaret was born in 1931 in Bronx, NY. She was one of 7 children from her parents, John McGrath (famous Irish musician) and Margaret McGrath (nee Gray). Family was always the most important thing to her and her siblings. She was a champion handball player in her youth. She married Paul Shovak on July 26, 1952. They had 7 children: Maria, Margaret, Paul, Theresa, Damian, James and Peter. She is survived by 14 grandchildren: Ann, Daniel, David, Katherine, Joseph, Karen, Jonathan, Corrie, Theresa, Gina, Anthony, Arianna, Michaela and Gabriella. She is survived by 4 greatgrandchildren: Constantine, Luca, Michael and Christopher. Paul and Margaret lived and raised their children in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY until 1990 when they moved to Staten Island. Margaret worked until retirement at ER Squibb and sons, now Bristol Myers. She enjoyed playing cards, especially Pinochle with her siblings and then her children and grandchildren. She is famous for getting 3 double-runs during her lifetime, which is 3 more than anyone else in the family ever got. She loved trips to Atlantic City, seeing her relatives, family reunions, word searches and scrabble, among others. Anyone who knew her would tell you that she was an extremely wonderful woman with a heart of gold and one of the most giving people you would ever have the privilege of meeting. She blessed so many lives and will be sorely missed. Family and friends may visit Matthew Funeral Home at 2508 Victory Blvd in Staten Island on Saturday and Sunday, June 17 and 18, 2023, from 2-4 and 7-9. Funeral Mass on Monday, June 19 at St. Anthony of Padua Church on Victory Blvd at 10:30am, entombment to follow in Woodbridge Memorial Gardens in Woodbridge, NJ. We have all been greatly blessed because of her life.