A Lifetime of Service: Marine Veteran Margaret Deavers Honored at Home
For Margaret Deavers, service has always been a way of life. Born Margaret Yirka in Maryland on April 24, 1935, she graduated from Seton High School in 1953. Three years later, inspired by a friend who joined the Marine Corps Reserve, Margaret enlisted herself. She served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959, working in personnel classification, where she helped assign Marines based on their skills and qualifications—an important administrative role for Women Marines during that era.
After her military service, Margaret built a career that included positions as a keypunch operator, in the U.S. Coast Guard supply office, at Montgomery Ward, and in a local photo studio. In 1964, while out dancing with friends, Margaret met the man who would become her husband. The couple married the following year and welcomed their daughter, Cheryl.
According to Cheryl, Margaret has always found joy in spending time with others. She loved dancing with friends, playing shuffleboard and bingo, and volunteering as a foster caregiver for senior dogs. A devoted woman of faith, she attended Church of the Crucifixion in Glen Burnie for many years before becoming a member of St. Athanasius Catholic Church in Brooklyn Park. Once she became a grandmother, however, her greatest joy was spending time with her grandson.
Continuing Her Journey at Home
Since March 2026, Margaret has been receiving home-based care through The Lifecare Institute, allowing her to remain in the comfort of her own home while receiving compassionate, expert care.
The Lifecare Institute provides an integrated continuum of hospice, palliative, and in-home medical care for adults living with serious or advanced illness throughout Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. Through the combined expertise of Luminis Health and Gilchrist, patients receive personalized medical care along with emotional, spiritual, and practical support tailored to their unique needs.
Unlike traditional hospice alone, The Lifecare Institute offers care across every stage of serious illness, including hospice, palliative care, home-based medical care, music therapy, pet therapy, chaplaincy, caregiver support, volunteer companionship, legacy projects, veteran recognition, and grief services. By meeting people where they are—both physically and emotionally—the team helps patients like Margaret live with greater comfort, dignity, and quality of life while remaining surrounded by the people and places they love.
Honoring Those Who Served
As part of Gilchrist’s Honoring Our Veterans Program, veteran patients are recognized for their military service through meaningful Salute to Service Tributes. These ceremonies acknowledge the sacrifices veterans have made for our country while giving them the opportunity to hear the words “thank you for your service” in a personal and heartfelt way.
Recently, Margaret was honored with her own Salute to Service Tribute in the comfort of her home. Surrounded by loved ones, the ceremony included an opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a formal salute by fellow veterans. Margaret received a certificate of appreciation, an Honoring Our Veterans pin, a patriotic blanket handcrafted by a volunteer, and a thank-you card created by a local student—a moving reminder that her years of service to our country have not been forgotten.
Your Generosity Makes Stories Like Margaret’s Possible
As a nonprofit organization, The Lifecare Institute relies on the generosity of donors to provide the comprehensive care and specialized support that insurance alone does not cover. Philanthropic support helps ensure every patient can receive expert medical care, emotional and spiritual guidance, veteran recognition ceremonies, volunteer services, music therapy, caregiver support, grief care, and so much more—regardless of their ability to pay.
Margaret’s Salute to Service Tribute is just one example of the meaningful moments made possible through community support. Every gift helps ensure patients and families receive comfort, dignity, and compassionate care throughout every stage of serious illness.
