Margaret Mary Hutcheson (known affectionately by all as Peggy), 64, of Mascoutah, IL, born August 14, 1961, to Patricia and George Hutcheson, suddenly passed away on June 6, 2026, at Memorial Hospital East, Shiloh, IL.
Peggy was born to Patricia and George Hutcheson and was the 6th out of 7 children. She was a graduate of Belleville West High School and Belleville Area College where she earned her associate’s degree in Radiological Technology. Recently retired from a lifelong career working in healthcare first as a CNA, putting herself through college, then as an X-ray tech at Belleville Memorial Hospital and then moving into the cardiac cath lab. Peggy would eventually work for the Jewish Hospital system as a cardiac cath interventional technologist before taking a traveling job training medical staff on the use of new equipment for Phillips Medical Systems. Eventually she returned to work locally until her retirement from John Cochrane Veterans hospital. Peggy was looking forward to a long and happy retirement with husband, Steven, while relishing the time she spent with her granddaughter, Maria. Her sudden loss is a shock to all family and friends, and her absence will create a huge void.
Peggy was an animal lover who insisted on adopting her dogs from local rescues. She was seldom without a house pet and often with one or two large dogs underfoot. She loved traveling, gardening, bunco with her friends, swimming and boating, decorating her house with art, and was an avid collector of cookie jars and fancy hats. She was loved by a network of family and friends going back to her grade school days and swimming on the Sundowners Swim Team where many lifelong friendships were forged. She was an honest, hardworking, practical, and frugal person. And with that background and experience she was known to have high expectations for herself and the people she supported and loved. She was warm, outgoing, had a kind heart, and enjoyed giving her time and care to neighbors and friends. Peggy loved and cared dearly for the younger children in her network, including nieces, nephews, and neighbors. She was a fixture at swim meets, track meets, football games, and other events and competitions, involving her nieces and nephews. Many have shared how they enjoyed their outings with Aunt Peggy and she was carrying on this legacy making weekly trips with Maria to tumbling class, the pool, and the zoo.
Peggy was preceded in death by both parents; two sisters-in-law, Karla Blades and Deborah Hutcheson, nee Fronk; and her beloved brother, Mark.
She is survived by her husband, Steven Michael Blades; two stepchildren, Anna M. Blades and Steven M. Blades Jr.; and her beloved granddaughter, Maria Blades. Peggy cared for and loved Maria with all her heart and the family is especially saddened that she will not see her grow up. Peggy is also survived by her five siblings, David (Laura) Hutcheson, Jill (Dennis) Byrne, John (Gail) Hutcheson, Anne (Gery) Roth, and Michael Hutcheson; a sister-in-law, Julie (Jeff) Glauber; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Belleville Area Humane Society or Madison County Humane Society, two local shelters from which Peggy rescued her four-legged friends. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
According to Peggy’s wishes, cremation will be held.
A celebration of life is being planned for the near future. Details will be posted as they are finalized.
