Margaret Gleneck
1932 – 2026
Known as the matriarch of her family, Margaret Gleneck was a woman of remarkable strength whose love, warmth, and presence left a profound and lasting impact on the lives of so many. Margaret passed away on July 18, 2026, at Ledgewood Bay in Milford. Beautiful inside and out, she brought joy, smiles, and laughter to those around her throughout her life. Those who knew and loved Margaret can find comfort in imagining that her beautiful smile and joyful laughter now continue in Heaven.
Jacqueline “Margaret” Belanger was born in the Pine Valley area of Wilton, New Hampshire to Gerard and Blanche (Coulombe) Belanger on April 25, 1932. She was the second of six children. With many siblings, Margaret was an instinctive leader who demonstrated a keen intellect, sharp wit, and a deep empathy that made her a natural sanctuary for others, especially for her brothers and sisters.
She attended the Pine Valley School on Elm Street in Milford in a 19th-century one-room district schoolhouse. She graduated from Milford High School in 1950. Her work ethic, even at a young age, has always been unwavering and unmatched. She worked for McLeod Apple Farm at the farmstand throughout high school. At 18, she had earned enough money to move to Nashua to the YWCA boarding house. Her sister Rolande later joined her. Margaret worked at Nashua Plastics for a year and at Doehla’s Greeting Cards for about four years. Later, after her children were older, she worked in the cafeterias of Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Nashua Corporation, and BAE Systems (Nashua and Merrimack) doing food preparation, cashiering, and managing the kitchens.
Idyllic love stories are rare, and Margaret was lucky to have lived her perfect love story for six decades! She met her husband, David Gleneck, while he was serving in the Navy during the Korean War from 1953 to 1957, in which time he earned the rank of First Class. The two lovebirds shared handwritten letters and dreams of the future, including building a family, businesses, and political careers. At Margaret’s request, he arrived at the YWCA for their first date in his full Navy attire, sweeping her off her feet from the beginning. Margaret and Dave married in Wilton on July 27, 1957. They were so excited to go on their honeymoon and begin their life together that they forgot their luggage in the living room!
They started their family with James Arthur entering the world on June 1, 1958. Diane Carol was born on July 8, 1959, followed by Daniel Leo, who was born on June 20, 1963. Margaret miscarried a baby, Melanie Elyse, and mourned her sweet angel for her entire life. Her youngest son, Jayson Robert, born on September 18, 1970, experienced heart problems
from birth, which he thankfully overcame with the support of Margaret and Dave. Margaret loved her children absolutely and unconditionally. When Margaret’s children were young, she ran an in-home daycare to take care of them while working evenings.
She was reliable and caring for all those around her, and known to lend a helping hand, while also being an incredible mother and leader of the family. When Dave and Dan formed a business and purchased multiple housing units, Margaret helped prepare for the incoming tenants going above and beyond to make the apartments feel special…every window had a curtain or blind just like her home. As a true testament of her caring nature, she developed close relationships with many of the tenants.
Margaret lived an active life in every sense. She and Dave were devoted Catholics and went to church every Sunday. They belonged to a candle pin bowling league called Jack & Jill Bowling, which is where they would spend their date nights. Margaret once won a trophy for a high triple (best score of 3 games) with a score of 340! They also enjoyed traveling to Maine, South Carolina, and Florida and held a time share in Pensacola, Florida. A favorite weekend activity was a Sunday drive to York, Maine for fried clams, or a visit to the Ogunquit Playhouse for a special occasion. Margaret loved shopping everywhere from “JC Penney’s” to Savers to Reny’s to the Dollar Tree – she was always in search of a great thrifty find! Margaret loved her community and was very civically engaged. She volunteered and worked at voting booths to help facilitate local elections in Nashua, and Federal elections, and took great pride in doing so. She was so honored to be sworn in as an elected selectman of Ward 4 of Nashua. Always an adventurer, Margaret got her passport at 80 years old to fly across the Atlantic Ocean to England to visit her granddaughter at Oxford University. She also traveled to Colorado at 86!
She created holiday magic by decorating her home and yard for every occasion and instilled this tradition in her children. Intelligent and creative, Margaret could always figure out a solution to any problem. Similar to her mother, Margaret had a prevalent green thumb that was always apparent when you would visit her beautiful yard. Every summer, she volunteered at the Greeley Park Art Show, where her son Jayson was a featured artist. In the evenings, Margaret liked to knit and crochet while watching Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and Steve Harvey. Margaret’s 80th birthday was celebrated with a surprise party at Estabrook Grill, and her 90th birthday was celebrated at Luis Lui’s where family and friends had an opportunity to show gratitude for her love and kindness over the years.
She and Dave’s love story never ended. In their later years, Dave would pick up Dunkin’ Donuts coffee every morning, and he and Margaret would begin and end each day together. After 61 wonderful years of marriage, Dave passed away on October 18, 2018 at the age of
84. Margaret held a candlelit vigil on a lazy Susan in her kitchen, facing up the street, to show her continued love and devotion to Dave.
Margaret was predeceased by her parents Gerard and Blanche (Coulombe) Belanger; her sisters Jeanne Simpson and Roland Belanger Levesque; her brother Joseph “Phillipe” Belanger; her husband David Gleneck; and her great-granddaughter Avery Gleneck. She is survived by her children, James Gleneck, Diane Hayden, Daniel Gleneck (Rena), Jayson Gleneck (Laura); grandchildren Sara Shipley (Keith), Allyson Hayden, Samuel Gleneck, and Robert Hayden; and great grandchildren Hannah Shipley, Madilyn Shipley, Benjamin Lobas, Ariya Lobas, and Sophia Sutton. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy. Margaret loved supporting her grand and great grandchildren at sporting events, dance recitals, graduations, birthdays, and beyond. When they visited her or she visited them, you could find her on the floor, in the treehouse, or on the trampoline, laughing and playing with them. They thought she was “cool!”
Margaret’s caring and compassionate heart has guided her throughout her life. Her love has always been fierce and her protection strong – a Steel Magnolia of the North. Margaret found joy in making loved ones feel her love through her support, family gatherings, gifts that made her think of them, and of course, her scouring the local newspaper for any stories that related to those she cared about! Margaret always remembered to send a card or order an angel food cake for birthdays. A shining star who helps those around her shine brighter will always be the brightest star.
Services: All are welcome to attend calling hours on Wednesday, July 22 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the Davis Funeral Home, 1 Lock St, Nashua, NH, 03064. A Catholic Mass will be held on Thursday, July 23 at 10:00am at Saint Christopher’s Church 62 Manchester St, Nashua, NH 03064. A future burial will take place at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Boscawen where she will be laid to rest with her husband.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Margaret’s name are encouraged to be sent to St. Judes Children Hospital. An online guestbook can be found at www.davisfuneralhomenh.com.