Margaret "Peggy" J. (Bonk) Paparella

Margaret J. “Peggy” Paparella​

February 26, 1946 – July 3, 2026​

Margaret J. “Peggy” Paparella, 80, of Little Falls, New York, passed away peacefully on July 3, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

​Born in Little Falls on February 26, 1946, Peggy was the daughter of the late Rosemary and Chester Bonk.

It was in her hometown that she met the love of her life, Donald Paparella. High school sweethearts, the two were wed on May 8, 1965, embarking on a beautiful journey of partnership, devotion, and deep love that spanned 61 incredible years.​

Peggy was a familiar and warm face in the community, dedicating 20 years of hard work as a catalog associate for JCPenney, where her kindness and work ethic left a lasting impression on everyone she met.​

To know Peggy was to know a woman of quiet joy and simple pleasures. She found beauty in the world around her, particularly in her love for butterflies and her favorite color, purple. Her hands were rarely still; she was an avid crafter and gardener, who also found comfort in the pages of a good book, the challenge of a crossword puzzle, and catching up on her favorite DVR shows. Above all else, Peggy’s greatest joy was her family. She possessed a radiant smile that could light up any room, a warmth that made everyone feel welcome, and a fierce love for her grandchildren, with whom she cherished every moment spent.

​Her legacy of love lives on through her devoted husband, Donald Paparella; her loving children, Donald Paparella Jr. and his wife Heather, Andrea Capasso and her partner Jay, and her cherished grandchildren, Anthony Capasso and his partner Harley, Stephen Capasso and Ava Paparella. She is also survived by her loving siblings, Anthony Bonk, Mary Ladouceur, and Noreen Robbins, as well as many extended family members and dear friends.

Peggy was reunited in peace with her siblings who went before her: Stanley Bonk, Joanne Weiner, Victoria Bagley, Michael Bonk, and Robert Bonk.

The family will be receiving relatives and friends on Friday, July 10, 2026, from 5 – 7 pm at the locally owned and family operated, Vincent A. Enea Funeral Service (next to Hannaford Markets), 527 E. Albany St., Herkimer, NY.  Funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 10: 00 am in the chapel of the funeral home. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Herkimer, NY.

​Peggy’s warmth, her beautiful smile, and the gentle grace she brought into the world will be profoundly missed but forever celebrated by those who loved her. In honor of Peggy’s wishes and her deep love for her family, the family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made in her memory to the Autism Society, 6110 Executive Blvd, Suite 305, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

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