Margaret LaBranche

East Lyme — Margaret “Peggy” Ann (Marsh) LaBranche, of East Lyme, passed away June 5, 2018, at her home, at the age of 70. She will always be remembered as a loving mother and wife, hard worker, kind and generous spirit to others, and a dependable “rock” to all.

She was born Aug. 25, 1947, in Grand Haven, Mich., the daughter of Henry Nelson and Iva Myrtle Virginia (Davis) Marsh. For most of her childhood, she lived in Ledyard. She graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1965, and from the University of Connecticut in 1969, with a bachelor of science degree in animal pathology.

She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Ronald John LaBranche; two daughters, Colleen LaBranche Smith and her husband William of North Stonington, and Charlotte LaBranche of East Lyme; two sisters, Mary Marsh Lippman and Maureen R. Marsh both of Ledyard; and three grandchildren, Henry, Ethan and Lucy Smith.

She had worked as a state marshal/deputy sheriff for the State of Connecticut in New London County since 1979. Her father (Henry) and sisters (Mary and Marty) were also deputy sheriffs. The three daughters were known as “Henry’s Angels.” Altogether, the family served as sheriffs from the 1960s to 2018, a period spanning 50 years. Margaret never had any difficulties serving papers, since everyone assumed she was an “Avon lady.” Henry and Margaret both served processing papers till the day they died.

She was always very proud of her family’s Coast Guard service, as her father, uncle and grandfather served close to a century in the Coast Guard. The tradition is continuing with her grandson, Henry, who is a cadet at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Calling hours are 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 15, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 16, at St. Matthias Church, 317 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme. Interment will follow in Ledyard Center Cemetery.

Donations in her name can be made to the Catholic Religious Offering Fund, U.S. Coast Guard Academy or to the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) — Coast Guard Academy Campus Fund, https://focusoncampus.org/ campus/united-states-coastguard-academy.