By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Margaret Griffin, the wife of former and late Mayor James D. Griffin, died Saturday at her South Buffalo home. She had been hospice care for a lengthy illness.
The wife of four term term mayor was known by her husband as "Marge" or "Margie.
The Griffin's married in 1968. They had three children, Thomas, Maureen and Megan.
Mayor Griffin was first elected in 1977, serving four unprecedented terms. He died at the age of 78 in 2008.
A wake will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Reddington Funeral Home on Abbott Road in South Buffalo.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Victory Basilica at 10:30 Wednesday morning.
Mrs. Griffin was 79.
The Griffin family declined to conduct media interviews. However, the Griffin children released the following statement, and thanked all for their thoughts, prayers and understanding:
Our mother was a fantastic woman, the backbone of our family. She raised us while our father served for so many years in the Senate and then City Hall. Our father's busy schedule often left her alone to care for us, born only 5years apart, beginning the year after they were married. Her grace and poise, in good times and bad, has been a lesson for us throughout our lives and will live on in our memories. Our parents were a terrific couple. They loved each other and had great fun together. They loved to laugh and tell stories with the many friends they gathered throughout their busy life. Everywhere we go we hear stories about our parents and the great times they enjoyed.
Recently, everyone has continued to ask about our mother and pray for her. We are so grateful for these well wishes and prayers.
Our mother loved her family, especially her grandchildren. "Nana Margie" truly was a world-champion grandmother to the end. She was always very private, but she also recognized the many people who supported her and our father for so many years. While she was private, most people recognized the strong influence that she had on our father throughout his career.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and for respecting our privacy while we mourn our loss and celebrate our mother's life.