Margaret O. Lahda, 74, of Manchester, the wife of John W. Lahda died Monday (January 21, 2012) at Hartford Hospital. Born in Hartford, December 14, 1938, she was the daughter of the late Charles O'Reilly and is survived by her mother Margaret (Donofrio) Lombardo and her husband Salvatore of Manchester. A tremendous advocate for the mentally handicapped, she worked with the Governor's Council for the mentally challenged for several years and retired from MARC Inc. after almost 20 years of service in 2001, where she once was President of the Board. Margaret was also a gifted and published poet. She is survived by her sons, John Lahda, III and his wife Anna of Rocky Hill, and was a devoted mother, caregiver and advocate for her son Charlie Sullivan Lahda of Manchester; her grandson John Vincent Lahda; and her favorite nephew Robert Sherman and his father Leonard Sherman. She was predeceased by her brother Charles O'Reilly. Margaret's family would like to offer a special thanks to April O'Reilly for all of her help. Funeral service will be held on Friday (January 25th) at 9:15 am from the John F. Tierney Funeral Home 219 West Center St. Manchester with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. James Church 896 Main St. Manchester, followed by burial in St. James Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 5-8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society 30 Speen Street P.O. Box 9376 Framingham, MA 01701-9376. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.