Margaret Mary Bell (Wildes) lived her life with heart, grit, and deep love for her family—never quietly, always fully.

Born on September 27, 1933, in New York, New York, Margaret later settled in Pepperell, Massachusetts, where she grew up, graduated from Pepperell High School, and built the life that would define her.

As a teenager, she worked at a local donut shop and movie theater—always busy, always moving, always doing what needed to be done. That drive stayed with her her entire life. She was strong, independent, and not someone to be pushed around—she even held a license to carry, a small but telling detail of the toughness she carried beneath her caring nature.

Margaret was predeceased by her parents, her brother and sister, her first husband of 30 years, William Blood, and later her husband David M. Bell of 30 years, whom she married in 1984.

Her greatest pride was her family. She raised five children—William Blood III, Timothy Blood, Joseph Blood, Marysue Blood, and Peter Blood—and built a home that was always clean, always in order, and always full of love. She was known for keeping one of the cleanest houses around and making sure her kids were always put together—ironing everything, because to her, that’s what taking care of your family looked like.

She was a cook, a caretaker, and someone who showed love through action. But more than anything, Margaret felt deeply. She was emotional in the best way—she loved hard, and you knew it. She could tear up just talking about her family, because they meant everything to her.

She worked as a teacher’s aide at Peter Fitzpatrick School and was active in the Pepperell Flower Garden Club, but her real passion was at home—her gardens, her family, and the life she built around them.

Later in life Margaret and David settled in Stafford Springs Connecticut, where they worked together part-time and slowed things down just enough to enjoy it. She loved having her grandchildren over—those nights were full of simple things: hikes in the woods, songs, crafts, and time together that meant more than anything.

Some of the best memories came from camping trips to Cape Cod, days at the beach, and later, winters spent in Florida with close friends—air boating, duck hunting, and enjoying life.

After David passed, she moved to Nashua in 2014, staying close to the people she loved most.

Margaret leaves behind her children, stepchildren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—and a legacy of love, strength, and care that will live on in all of them.

She wasn’t perfect. She was real. She felt everything. And she loved her family with everything she had.

A graveside service will be held at Pepperell Association Cemetery, Park Street, Pepperell, MA on Wednesday, March 25th at 12 pm. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.

Arrangements are entrusted to the McGaffigan Family.