Marjorie Mae Petri

Marjorie Mae (Necker) Petri, age 89, returned to the Lord on Saturday, March 9, 2024, with her family at her side. Margie was born on June 27, 1934 to Leslie and Thelma (Wiemers) Necker. Her parents, “Grandpoppy” and “Grandmommy,” were an example and inspiration to her and her three siblings their entire lives. Born and raised in San Antonio, Margie was proud to be a 7^th generation Texan. She attended Sacred Heart School and St. Mary's School downtown and was later in the first graduating class at Providence High School, class of '52. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Our Lady of the Lake College, class of '56. Margie married her high school sweetheart, Max Charles Petri, Jr., on June 22, 1957, and they spent the next 56 years together, raising their six children. During her 31-year teaching career, Margie enjoyed teaching 1^st grade, giving her students an early love for reading and history. Teaching is where she found many dear and treasured life-long friends and she always looked forward to the monthly retired teachers luncheons.

Margie lived her life with a passionate devotion to her core values of family and faith. She cherished her family, always finding time to take on several leadership roles in their school and extracurricular activities. She served on the school board for Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, was a cub scout den mother, a girl scout leader, and a softball coach. She and Max sent all their children to Catholic schools and were there to support them in all their endeavors. Margie was known as the loudest football fan, cheering for her boys with cowbell in hand. Family gatherings were plentiful and loud, always lasting late into the night. 

Her faith never yielding, Margie joined the Legion of Mary in high school and continued through college. She was a charter member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (1956), where she served on the Pastoral Council and as a Eucharistic Minister. She was also a member of VSP, Catholic Daughters and the Altar Society. Following in the footsteps of her father, Leslie Necker, her main devotion was to the Holy Name Society, where, for many years, she served in the positions of Vice President and President and attended several national conventions. She also had a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother, especially Our Lady of Fatima. It was this devotion that led her and other prayer warriors to expand the Blessed Sacrament Parish Rosary Group in 2020 to offer an opportunity for daily weekday devotion. Her Catholic faith was the basis of all she did in her life. She was a fierce advocate for the rights of the unborn and supported organizations that offered help to women. She worked hard throughout her life, facing challenges head-on with courage and faith.  

Margie and Max had many adventures throughout the years, and always with an abundance of laughter. Their love was a shining example to their four sons and two daughters. They enjoyed Friday night football games, weekend baseball games and weekend campouts. Being an Army wife, Margie was always on the move, from Fort Hood to Alaska, with children in tow. When the family relocated from Alaska to San Antonio in 1973, they drove the entire unpaved Alaskan Highway.  Margie and Max loved to travel. They took several trips to Hawaii and visited Paris and Rome- the highlight being their visit to the Vatican. They had annual trips to the beach in their trusted station wagon, along with road trips across the country. 

Margie was preceded in death by her husband Max, her daughter, Mary Annette Scott, her parents, her aunts Margaret and Helen Wiemers, her sister Rosemary Tips (Jimmy), brother-in-law Tom Knodell, Sr., sisters-in-law Linda Necker and Maxine Rosen (Norm). She is survived by her children: Kenneth Petri (Donna), Brian Petri (Cassi), Daniel Petri (Ruby), Andrew Petri (Anna-Laura) and Claire Abad (Robert); grandchildren: Amanda Patrick (DJ), Heather Litman (James), Jennifer LaBorde, Kimberly Allen, Michael Petri (Whitney), Morgan Petri, Jacob Petri (fiancée Bailey Seiter), Corey Petri, Xavier Otero, Dax Otero, Gregory Petri, Avelina Petri, Madeline Petri, Andrew Petri, Jr. “A.J.” (fiancée Irma Morales), Krystal Petri, Jordan Abad and Madison Abad; and 12 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Dorothy Knodell, brother John L. Necker (Carolyn), brother-in-law Martin Petri (Donna), sister-in-law Martha Brown (Tom), and finally many godchildren, nieces and nephews. 

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks for all the prayers from friends and family and to all the people who provided care for Margie during the past year: Dr. Ronald Drengler, Dr. Mitch Finney, Dr. Edwin Whitney, all the nurses and staff at the START center, especially Naomi Williams; her caregivers, especially Irma Valero; and Spiritual Support from Fr. Chris Munoz and her special Rosary group. 

Margie was a shining example of courage, faith and love and she will be missed by all who knew her. “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

All services will be held at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church at 600 Oblate Dr.

Visitation: Monday, March 18, 2024 at 6:30 pm with Rosary at 7:30 pm

Visitation: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 11:00 am with Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 pm 

Entombment at Holy Cross Cemetery - Mausoleum.