Margaret "Peg" Stoetzel

Margaret “Peg” Stoetzel

Margaret “Peg” Stoetzel, 73, of Dallas, Texas, formerly of Peru, Illinois, passed away Friday, October 30, 2026, in Dallas. She was born May 31, 1953, in LaSalle, Illinois, to John and Margaret (Gibney) Stoetzel.

Margaret’s life was rooted in two things: her faith in God and her love for her family. A member of Holy Rosary Church in LaSalle, her Catholic faith guided the way she lived each day. She attended Mass daily, and prayer was as natural to her as breathing. She prayed the rosary every day and kept a list of names close to her heart, both those still living and those who had passed, lifting each one up in prayer. “Let go and let God” was more than something Margaret said. It was how she lived.

Margaret accomplished much in her lifetime, but she never wanted attention or recognition for those achievements. As she grew older, she placed less importance on her accomplishments and more on what mattered most to her: her faith and the people she loved.

Her children, Christopher, Kelley, and Samantha, were at the center of her life. She loved them deeply and stood beside them throughout their lives.

Her grandsons, Logan and Rowan Salazar and Jack Cawley, brought her tremendous joy. Living near Logan and Rowan, she helped care for them as they grew up, spending hours on the floor getting a train track just right or learning every superhero by name. She loved watching them serve as altar boys at Mass and sharing with them the faith that meant so much to her.

Though she and Jack lived farther apart, he held a special place in her heart. She couldn’t have been prouder of the young man he had become. She kept his picture close and included him in her daily prayers.

Margaret saw God’s handiwork in the world around her, especially in the horses she loved. To her, they were among His most magnificent creations, a reminder of His strength and grace.

Anyone who knew Margaret knew Benji, the little dog she called her "puppa." The two were inseparable, and it was rare to see her without him close by.

At home, Margaret had a way of turning neighbors into friends. She always had a warm word to share and found contentment in a simple life. She quietly gave what she could to those in need.

She devoted her life to her faith and her family, and she was deeply loved in return. Her family will miss her more than words can express.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Margaret Stoetzel; her son, Christopher Ryan Cawley; and her sister, Barbara “Barb” Jagodzinski.

She is survived by her daughters, Kelley Cawley-Salazar and Samantha Judge; her son-in-law, Brent Salazar; her grandsons, Logan and Rowan Salazar and Jack Cawley of Dallas, Texas; and her sisters, Nancy (Daniel) Knox of Maple Grove, Minnesota; Patricia (Samuel) Tibbetts of Rockland, Maine; Jean Stoetzel Pfalzgraf of Arlington Heights, Illinois; Mary Bowie of Peru, Illinois; and Laurie (Robert) Stoetzel of Plymouth, Minnesota; along with many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be held Monday, November 9, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Holy Rosary Church in LaSalle, Illinois, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 PM. Rev Paul Carlson will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Vincent's Cemetery. Ptak Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Online condolences and Memories may be shared at PtakFH.com