Margaret Bolla Bridgeman "Margie"

Margaret Bolla Bridgeman, known affectionately as Margie, age 69, of Wilmington, DE, passed away on Tuesday, November 26, 2013. Born in TatabÃ¡nya, Hungary, on January 29, 1944 to Margit and Istvan Bolla, Margaret’s father passed away when she was very young. Years later, enduring the Hungarian Revolution, the family made the difficult decision to escape from their native country. Margaret, along with her mother, step father, 2 sisters, Mary and Agi, and an uncle, Lazlo, eventually fled. Traveling through icy rivers, frozen farm fields, and taking cover in hay stacks, they finally crossed the border into Austria, and then made their way to Germany. The family was fortunate to be placed on a US bound flight, landing in New Jersey, on Christmas Day. With the help of a sponsor, the future Governor of Delaware, Russell Peterson, they settled in Wilmington, where Margaret was enrolled in school, learned English, and eventually married and had her 4 children. For many years, she enjoyed her position as hostess for the University and Whist Club of Wilmington, retiring in 2005. Family was most important to Margie. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, daughter, and grandmother. Her gentle and caring nature will be dearly missed by all who knew her. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Carl B. Bridgeman, who passed away in 1993; sister, Mary Grobelny, who passed away in 1999; and grandson, Steven Paul Bridgeman McKernan, who passed away in 1985. Margie is survived by her children, Michael Bridgeman of Newark, DE, Kathie Di Vincenzo and husband John of Wilmington, DE, Linda Brainard and husband Bryon of Bear, DE, and Karen Garrett and husband William of Newark, DE; mother, Margaret Kelemen of Hockessin, DE; sisters, Christine Finnegan of Newark, DE and Agnes Wilson of Wilmington, DE; dear family friend, Dr. William Gonce; and 10 grandchildren, John, Eric, Kasey, DontÃ©, RaeAnn, Skylar, Dustin, Olivia, Christian, and Laura. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 pm on Monday, December 2, 2013, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE, where friends may call from 12:30 pm until 1:30 pm. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery, 6001 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE.