Margaret Cecilia Avila

Margaret Cecelia Avila

On Monday, June 21, 2021, Margaret "Peggy" Cecilia Avila, loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend passed away at age 79.

She was born to Matthew Scheehser and Virginia Scheehser Berglund on November 22, 1941 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Her family moved to Denver, Colorado, when Peggy was 12 years old. Peggy graduated from St. Mary's Academy, and received her bachelor's degree from Loretto Heights College In Denver. On August 25, 1964, she married Jesse Benjamin Avila. They raised one son and one daughter while Jesse served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years.

Within her family Peggy was affectionately known as our "Bird Lady" as she picked up the passion for breeding and showing Cockatiels in 1992, winning numerous ribbons and having several of her birds named Grand Champions at National Cockatiel Society competitions. Additionally, when the family moved to Anchorage Alaska with Jesse's position with GSA, her talent for crocheting produced one-of-a-kind afghans, with an Alaskan scene cross stitched on the front, many winningn Blue Ribbons at the annual Alaska Fur Rendezvous. Recipients of Peggy's lovingly made blankets consider them treasured gifts. Peggy became a thrift shopper extraordinaire while managing the Bishop's Attic, a thrift shop run by the Catholic Church in Alaska. She was known for her infectious laugh, spicy guacamole, and her kind and compassionate spirit.

Peggy was preceded in death by her father, mother, and her sister Virginia (Ginny) Killinger. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Jesse, daughter, Michelle Foster, son, Christopher Avila, three grandchildren, Sydney Cain, Alex and Evan Avila, her niece, Margaret Fuentes and nephew, Matthew Ostberg, as well as many cousins.

A Memorial Service will be held Friday, July 23, 2021 at 1:30PM on the Air Force Academy grounds in the Community Chapel, located next to the Bowling Alley 10 ABW/HC
5134 Cathedral Drive, Suite 100
USAF Academy, CO 80840-2700

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts are requested to :
St. Benedict's Abbey – Atchison, KS - https://www.kansasmonks.org/give-now, or
CTOF Air Force Academy –
1. ONLINE: Click on the attached link and fill out the form as the Donor and in the COMMENT/QUESTION Block add "Memorial Donation on Behalf of Peggy Avila" - https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=vUJEHM
2. Mailed In: Checks can be made out to "Catholic CTOF" and in the memo add "Memorial Donation for Peggy Avila" and the check mailed to the following address:

Catholic CTOF
10 ABW/HC (Attn: Account Manager)
5134 Cathedral Drive, Suite 100
USAFA, CO 80840

Condolences may be sent to:
Jesse Avila
7910 E Greenwood Road
Franktown CO 80116

As the memorial location is on the grounds of the Air Force Academy, security protocols only allow entry by anyone carrying DoD ID. For those who do not hold such ID, we are required to issue an Entry Access List (EAL) containing the following data for each attendee and delivered to them No Later Than 7.14.2021. Personal data will need to be sent to Mary Ann Wisehart by Monday, 7.12.2021 to meet this deadline
NAME (LAST, FIRST)
ADDRESS
DOB (Date of Birth)
DRIVER LICENSE NO, (Note: Given Name must match that shown on the Driver's License.)
STATE OF ISSUE
COVID VACCINATION STATUS
Mary Ann Wisehart will be collecting this data. Please call her– 303-469.8257 with this information.
To provide for social distancing, we will be able to accommodate 50 attendees, without masks, if all are fully vaccinated.