Margaret Greenlee, 80; was admissions officer

Margaret Greenlee, 80, of Fairmount, a retired hospital admissions officer and mother of Philadelphia Councilman Bill Greenlee, died of ovarian cancer Saturday, May 22, at Penn Rittenhouse Hospice.

Ms. Greenlee raised her only child as a single mother with the help of two aunts. To support the family, she was an office assistant for Hires Root Beer and the Budd Co. and then worked in the admissions office at Hahnemann University Hospital for more than 20 years.

When her son ran for an at-large Council seat, she was an energetic campaigner, he said. After he won the election, she and her daughter-in-law, Leslie, held the Bible when he was sworn in on Nov. 27, 2006. Friends who were there said "they could see the pride oozing out of her," her son said.

Ms. Greenlee was orphaned by the time she was 8. She and a younger brother, James, were raised by their grandmother in the house where she would live for the rest of her life.

She attended St. Francis Xavier School and graduated from John W. Hallahan Catholic High School for Girls.

After retiring as chief admissions officer at Hahnemann in 1995, Ms. Greenlee was a part-time bookkeeper for a psychologist in Fairmount until she became ill several months ago.

She was generous with her time and always available to help out at charity fund-raisers, especially those benefiting St. Francis Xavier Church, her son said.

Ms. Greenlee was in charge of publicity for the 150th anniversary celebration of the church in 1989 and compiled a weekly parish trivia column for the church bulletin.

She had served on the board of the Fairmount Civic Association and was a Democratic judge of elections for the 15th Ward, First Division, in Fairmount.

Ms. Greenlee was a longtime subscriber to the Walnut Street Theatre. She enjoyed monthly dinners with friends, visits to the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City, and travel. She is survived by her son and brother.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 27, and from 8 to 9 a.m. Friday, May 28, at Dinan Funeral Home, 1921 Spring Garden St. A Funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Friday, May 28, at St. Francis Xavier Church, 24th and Green Streets. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Church, Cheltenham.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Francis Xavier School, 641 N. 24th St., Philadelphia 19130.