Margaret A. Minasian

Margaret “Maggie” Minasian, outdoorswoman, artist, cooker of comfort food, world class hugger, sister, aunt, grandmother and cherished friend, left us unexpectedly on February 21, 2023.  We are heartbroken but she left the world, and those she touched, in a better place than we would have been without her. 

Maggie grew up in Westboro, Massachusetts with her parents Haig and Maxine Minasian, who predeceased her, and her 3 siblings Elisa, Melanie, and Michael. She  graduated from Westboro High School in the class of 1974.  For many years she and the family were very involved in the American Indian Society.   Along with her close friends, Debra Moore and Denise Haire-Cote, they traveled around the country attending Native American gatherings and socials. 

 Maggie excelled at gardening.  Her flowers and vegetables are legendary.  Many a flower garden started, or was enhanced, with her cuttings and, in turn, her garden grew every summer from clippings she would get from her friends.  She always canned enough food from the vegetables that she grew to feed a small village.  She loved to cook, again in amounts that could feed a small village.  The rod and gun club wants to plan a celebration of her life, but no one knows who will do the cooking now that she’s gone. It’s a big apron to fill. 

 She was an avid outdoors woman and, for many years, lived in a rustic log cabin on Sanbornton Mountain with a horse that she rescued.  The cabin was truly rustic with a wood burning cook stove and an outhouse.  Her friend Cindy was a constant companion in her adventures during those years.   One of Maggie’s favorite annual events was to travel to Union Grove, North Carolina with Elisa and their friend Carol Richards to attend the Fiddlers Convention. 

Maggie also enjoyed hunting, especially at Jakey’s camp with her boys.  She didn’t always hunt with a rifle. She also explored nature and took amazing photos of wildlife that she discovered along the way.  She loved Moosehead Lake in Maine where she, Elisa and their childhood friend Colleen Brady spent many summers cruising the lake, collecting fossils or looking for moose and bear.  Between the 3 of them, there isn't a logging road between Moosehead and Canada that hasn't been explored.  All they needed was their Moose Juice to get them there!

Sister Melanie was introduced to Moosehead, and her very first moose, by spending a week in a cabin with Maggie.  Maggie loved to tell the story of the look on Melanie’s face when she came around the corner and saw Mags pointing to something in the road.  Initially Melanie only saw hooves and legs. As she followed those legs up, she discovered herself face to face with a huge bull moose.   Welcome to Maine!

Our Maggie enjoyed creating beauty, both in her gardens and in other medium.  Several years ago, Maggie started playing with glass in all shapes and forms - stained, flameworked, and fused. She and Elisa spent many days at Louise Erskine’s house playing in the glass studio. She also created bird baths and other garden art from concrete and found objects.  Many of her friends have quilts that she made for special occasions.  She also excelled at fly tying and enjoyed fly fishing.  Over the years, many weddings benefitted from Mag’s floral arranging skills.  She wasn’t above exploring a neighbor’s garden and roadsides for interesting samples to make her arrangements extra special. 

 Maggie’s second home was in Dover, New Hampshire where she had a huge group of friends who considered her family.  She often stayed at Mike and Kerri’s where she enjoyed motorcycle rides, boating, shopping, collaborating on artsy projects, or just relaxing by the Bellamy River while she read a book.

 You needed to be careful when dealing with Maggie.  She loved to laugh, and friends often found themselves the subject of practical jokes.  One unnamed individual found himself featured wearing ladies’ lingerie (a story for another time) on a huge poster at the Harley Rendezvous.  The same picture mysteriously appeared on Christmas cards that were sent to every local watering hole a few months later.  Many of her pranks were pulled off with the help of her friend Nettie. For example, they put together an X-rated “Where’s Wally” poster for a friend who made the mistake of sharing his nickname for a certain body part. 

 She could also laugh at herself.  She tended bar on the weekends and had to work a shift when she had lost her voice.  She made up a series of signs to help her get through the night. One special example read, “Can’t talk, you’re shut off!”.

You could always count on Maggie to help when someone was in need.  She moved in to care of her dad when he reached the point where he could no longer live alone.  She helped her sister Melanie through the death of her husband and other life challenges.  She was always ready with a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen and with two helping hands.  She also takes credit for saving the lives of Melanie’s family by teaching her sister to cook.  She always said that Melanie couldn’t boil water without burning it. 

When Maggie took off for that hunting camp in the sky, she left behind her sisters Elisa Minasian of Colorado, Melanie McKeon of Athol, Michael Minasian of Washington; two grandchildren Justin and Caitlin Charpentier (of whom she was extremely proud); her nieces Christel McKeon and Meghan Chiasson; three great nieces, an adopted Lakota brother, Dale American Horse, and too many friends to count, all of whom considered her their best friend.

Please take comfort in the knowledge that Maggie has been reunited with friends and family who she hasn’t seen in a very long time. 

Maggie - All your “Poopies”, “Loves” and “Honeys” will miss you!

Services for Maggie will be held at Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation St., Worcester.  The visitation will be Thursday, March 16th from 4PM – 7PM and the service will be on Friday, March 17th at 11AM.  She will be laid to rest alongside her beloved parents at Hope Cemetery. To share your thoughts and memories of Maggie, please visit her guestbook at www.mercadantefuneral.com. 

 In lieu of flowers please donate to one of the Maine Fish and Game causes: Non Game and Endangered Species Fund:  IFW Store (maine.gov); Hooked on Fishing, the youth angling education program: IFW Store (maine.gov), or you can send a check to Maine Fish and Game, 353 Water Street, Augusta, Maine 04333.  Don’t forget to note that it’s in memory of Maggie Minasian.