Margaret Heiser (Peggy) Whale, 86, of Reston, Virginia, passed away on November 26, 2025.

Peggy was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, on December 5, 1938, to Frank Bertram (Bert) and Grace Magee Heiser. She graduated from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School in 1956 and earned a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics from Cedar Crest College.

Peggy married Thomas Whale on June 27, 1964, in Hazlet, New Jersey, with Norman Riley officiating. They were happily married for 37 years until Thomas’s passing in 2001. Together they raised three children on the Jersey Shore in Fair Haven, New Jersey, before retiring to Stuart, Florida, in 1990.

Early in her career, Peggy demonstrated modern kitchen appliances for New Jersey Power and Light and later taught high school home economics. She went on to serve as Executive Director of Adult Education for United Cerebral Palsy in central New Jersey. During her time with UCP, she became a strong advocate for accessibility, contributing to efforts that helped pave the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

After retiring in 1990, Peggy continued her passion for teaching as a preschool teacher. She was an avid reader who loved traveling and spending time with her family and lifelong friends.

Peggy was a member of Galilee United Methodist Church in Sterling, Virginia. Prior to moving to Virginia in 2015, she was a longtime member of Stuart Congregational Church in Stuart, Florida, where she volunteered as a Stephen Minister.

Peggy is survived by her children, Thomas Whale (Tracey), Debra Tomaselli (James), and David Whale (Cathy); her grandchildren, Erin Whale, John Whale, Samantha Whale, Nina Whale, Tyler Whale, and Sophia Tomaselli; her great-grandson, Connor Guida; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding Peggy in death are her husband, Thomas; her parents, Bert and Grace Heiser; and her sister, Ann Marie Webb.