Margaret Ann “Peg” Tigue, 91, of Wilmington, Delaware, passed away on November 5, 2024, with her family surrounding her in the comfort of her beautiful home. She leaves a wake of love, purpose, and honor that few achieve in a lifetime.
A courageous woman all of her life, Peg met every challenge with grace, intellect and determination.
Peg lived many incarnations. She was born a beauty in May of 1933, to Paul and Marion Tigue. She grew to become a lovely, young ingenue in the ’50s and was regaled as a University of Delaware Homecoming Queen. In the turbulent ’60s, she blossomed into the dynamic and loving wife of Kenneth C. Andersen. The couple ran Tigue Pharmacy on Marsh Road and provided an idyllic childhood to five children.
In 1974, she was suddenly widowed and thrown headfirst into running the family business. This was perhaps the most difficult and impactful event of her life and vulcanized the indomitable person she was to become. Soldiering through grief and loss, she supported her own family and the fortunes of many valued employees. She carried this trait throughout her life: she always persevered and made her own way.
She went on to marry again and traveled the world. In her mid-fifties, she reconnected with her soulmate Jack Dougherty. They lived together for over twenty years as affectionately devoted companions until his death in 2017.
The last decades of her life exposed her life’s true passion, community revitalization, which started with the building of a tall ship, the Kalmar Nyckel, and ended in working tirelessly for the rebirth of her urban neighborhood via the organization she established, Brandywine Partners. She fiercely loved her work, as well as her Superfine neighbors and friends in the area. On any given day, one could find Peg in her living room busily editing the next BP newsletter, updating the Facebook page, or planning her next enterprise.
Peg led or was a board member of numerous not-for-profits and foundations. She was a driving force behind the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation (Director and Development), Tall Ships Delaware (Chair), the National Maritime Heritage & Education Foundation (Director), Amistad visits DC (Chair), Old Brandywine Village (Board and Development), Habitat for Humanity (Board), and Brandywine Partners (Chair and Development), and W3R-US (Board). Her awards and accomplishments are too many to list, but include the Wilmington Senior Center Dave Menser Award, the KNF King Neptune Award, the Ursuline Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, the City of Wilmington Brandywine Village Award, and the Rotary Club Distinguished Community Service Award.
Peg’s legacy is one of leadership, generosity and pride. She raised millions of dollars for the projects she believed in. She was sought after for her vision, abilities, and the tremendous network of connections that she had nurtured over the years. Most importantly, she was the hub of that network and will be deeply missed in this capacity.
Peg is survived by her children Ann Thane (Peter), Patty (Natrin) Andersen, Lisa Andersen, Kirk Andersen, and Marybeth Andersen Fisher (Scott). She is predeceased by her son, Harry Andersen. Her grandchildren are: Ian and Sarah Thane; Kai, Kirk and Keegan Andersen; Zachery and Hannah Yindra; and, Evan and Ben Fisher. She has a large extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews, and wonderful friends.
Her family invites you to celebrate Peg’s life on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 2:00 pm at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Accent Care Hospice (https://seasonsfoundation.org/donate/). “We never could have gotten through Peg’s transition to death without the unbelievably compassionate and complete care offered by this wonderful organization. Thank you, Hospice.” – Peg’s kids
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