Obituary of Margaret Louise Mateljan

Margaret Mateljan, a beautiful, loving and kind-hearted lady, has been the eldest resident on Daufuskie Island. At the age of 97, she passed through death into Life to join her parents and ten siblings. Precious memories of her smile and pleasant personality will live on in the hearts of all who have known her. Margaret was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1921, the sixth of eleven children. Her parents were Croatian immigrants, and Margaret was very proud of her heritage which she manifested in her Croatian cooking. Margaret attended Catholic elementary school where the nuns taught the girls sewing, knitting, and tatting. She grew up making all of her own clothing, coats and suits. She also enjoyed oil painting. Her family survived the Depression, WWII, and the Johnstown flood. Her mother and father died young, and since her four older brothers and one older sister joined the military, Margaret was left to raise the younger siblings. After completing high school, she landed a job as a secretary, then was promoted over time to the position of head buyer in the purchasing department of Holley Carburetor Corporation …a position never before occupied by a female! She worked for the corporation for 42 years! Upon her retirement, she and her sister, who had served in the Army Nurse Corp. in both WWII and the Korean War moved in together. The sisters never married. They travelled the world extensively together. They lived together in Farmington Hills, then in Auburn Hills, Michigan. When her sister died, Margaret lived independently for two years with guardian supervision, then moved with the guardian to Daufuskie Island, where she became a treasured member of the community. The entire community enjoyed and admired Margaret’s spunk and wit. She will be fondly remembered by all who knew her. A service for Margaret will be held in early December. Her cremains will be transported to Johnstown for burial in her family plot. Donations can be made to Volunteers in Medicine on Hilton Head, 15 Northridge Dr. Hilton Head Island, SC 29926.