Margaret “Peggy” Lucy (Shaw) Holupka

August 21, 1938 – October 20, 2026

Margaret “Peggy” Holupka, 88, passed away peacefully on October 20, 2026, at Gilchrist Hospice in Towson, Maryland.

Born to Blair and Jean (Elkin) Shaw, Peggy grew up near Johnstown as the second oldest of six children. She married Charles “Chuck” Holupka of Vintondale, Pennsylvania in 1957. They moved to Dundalk, Maryland, in the early 1960s, where they raised their family and built a life centered on family, faith, and community.

Peggy expressed her love through practical acts of service, always ready to cook a meal, care for her grandchildren, help a family member, or lend a hand to her community. She will be remembered as a tireless “worker bee” who found purpose in being useful, dependable, and generous to others. She devoted decades of service to the Dundalk Church of the Brethren, serving as treasurer and deacon, organizing fellowship meals, leading children’s activities and singing in the choir. After retiring, she and Chuck even served as janitors for several years. Peggy worked with people with developmental disabilities at the Arc of Baltimore, before spending more than 15 years as a teacher’s aide working with children with developmental issues with the Baltimore County Public Schools, retiring in 1995. After retiring, she volunteered as a delivery driver with Meals on Wheels for over 15 years.

Peggy treasured spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed entertaining friends from church at her home and helping her sisters on various projects and activities. She also enjoyed traveling, including trips to New England, California and Alaska with her husband, Chuck, and visiting foreign destinations including Egypt, England, China, and Australia with her sisters and friends. After Chuck’s death in 1999, Peggy shared several years of companionship with Frank Crisco and his daughter, Julie

She was predeceased by her husband, Chuck; siblings Cynthia Gilmore and Edward Shaw; several brothers- and sisters-in-law; and dear friends Frank and Julie Crisco. She is survived by her sisters Barbara Smith, Betty Ling, and Sue McGee; her children, Scott Holupka (Amy Menzer) and Lori DeJong (Chuck DeJong); grandchildren Joshua DeJong, Ryan DeJong, and Maren Holupka; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family members.

Her legacy lives on in the family she cherished and the many lives she touched through her kindness and service.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 14th at 1:00 PM at the GraceWay International Community Church, 2660 Yorkway, Dundalk, MD. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Peggy’s honor to Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland (https://mealsonwheelsmd.org/), The Arc of Baltimore (https://www.thearcbaltimore.org/) or Gilchrist Hospice (https://gilchristcares.org/).