Margret F. Hormel

Margret F. “Mayor Maggie” Hormel, 79, of Hanover, passed away peacefully at her residence on Thursday, July 8, 2010.



Born on January 4, 1931, in Oakdale, she was a daughter of the late Peter W. and Mary Wallace Longstreth.　She was the wife of more than 49 years to Glenn L. Hormel, who died in 1997.　She was also preceded in death by her sister, Mary Jordan and two brothers, John Longstreth and Leroy McLaughlin.



For more than 20 years, she owned and operated Maggie's (originally known as “Maggie’s Fireside Shoppe”), which she started in her home in Heidelberg Township, later moving the store to Carlisle Street in Hanover.　As a busy small business owner, she took the time to be an integral part of the business community as a member of the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce, becoming its first chairwoman of the board, serving two terms.　She was also an active member of the American Business Women’s Association, the York County Industrial Development Corporation, serving as a board member for eight years.　The business community took notice. The Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce named her the Small Business Person of the Year and the American Business Women’s Association chose her as its Woman of the Year.



She was elected to Hanover Borough Council in 1978 and served until 1986 in such capacities as vice president of council and chairwoman of the finance committee. In 1993, she returned to the borough “business” by accepting the appointment to mayor. As Mayor Maggie, she established daily office hours, began regularly attending the council’s public safety and finance/personnel committee meetings, worked at being an effective advocate for the Hanover Police Department and later created the Beautification Fund to provide plantings for downtown Hanover.



From the beginning, she dove into politics to affect change and better the community by becoming a member of the York County Republican Club, the York County Women’s Republican Club, the Hanover Republican Caucus, state and York County associations for mayors, and state and York County associations representing boroughs, including serving as a delegate to the state association and on its legislative and historical preservation committees.



In her political life, Mayor Maggie, who was elected three times to her position, was named the Republican of the Year and the York County Republican of the Year by the Women’s Republican Club and was recognized for her Contributions in Area Politics by the YWCA of Hanover.



Among her numerous memberships are the Hanover YWCA, Hanover Hospital Auxiliary, and First United Methodist Church. She has volunteered with the annual Chili Cookoff, which raises funds for area nonprofits; Dutch Days, which she and Ellie Naill founded; Communities That Care; York Counts; and the Cornerstone Campaign for the Hanover Public Library. She also participated in a radio program that highlighted Hanover YWCA projects and programs.



Survivors include her son, Terrence L. Hormel and his wife, Monna, of Hanover; two daughters, Pamela L. Brown and her husband, Jeffrey, of Spring Grove and Heidi J. Hormel of Hanover; two grandsons, Eric Hormel and his wife, Amy Hormel, and Jeremy Brown; two great-grandchildren, Ian Hormel and Mallory Hormel; and two brothers, Lawson “Larry” Longstreth of Spring Grove and Peter Longstreth of Oakdale.



The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, July 12, 2010, at First United Methodist Church, 200 Frederick St., Hanover.　The Rev. Thomas H. Jacobs will officiate. Burial will be private.　Serving as pallbearers will be Eric Hormel, Jeremy Brown, and officers of the Borough of Hanover Police and Fire Departments.



Friends may call to pay their respects after 2 p.m. Sunday, July 11, 2010, at Panebaker Funeral Home, Inc, 311 Broadway, Hanover.　The family will formally receive friends and share memories from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday evening and one hour prior to the service at the church.










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