Frances Peg Kimball

Long time Ithaca resident Peg O'Neill Kimball passed away at the age
of 97 on November 19, 2012 at Bridges Cornell Heights where she spent
the last two years of her life under the incredibly devoted and loving
care of their staff. She is survived by her son, Michael Kimball,
daughter-in-law Christine Carroll Kimball, grandchildren Hilary,
Justin, and Micaela Kimball, and lifelong surrogate daughter, Betsy
Crossmore Loring. She was pre-deceased by her husband Harold "Bus"
Kimball.

Peg was born in Trumansburg, NY, the only daughter of Frank and
Myrtie O'Neill. A 1934 graduate of Ithaca High School, Peg married
Bus Kimball in 1939, and later bore her only child, Michael.

Despite being warned in the late 30's and early 40's that she wouldn't
be hired in the local real estate world as a woman, Peg always knew
she wanted to sell real estate. She grew up watching her parents buy
and sell homes to survive The Great Depression.

Peg received her real estate broker's license in 1948. She promptly
opened her own business, Peg O'Neill Kimball Real Estate. Two years
later, she was accepted as the first female member of the Ithaca
Realtors Association.

Throughout the 1950's and 1960's, Peg worked hard selling homes and
guiding the design and construction of several large developments in
the Northeast area of Ithaca. Among many projects, Peg worked on
behalf of St Catherine of Siena Church, and was able to secure land
for its construction, and became one of the Founding Members of St.
Catherine of Siena Parish.

Peg was honored by the Ithaca Journal and Syracuse Post-Standard for
her efforts as a pioneer woman in the real estate world. In 1957, she
received the prestigious New York Times award for the best classified
advertising by a New York State real estate broker, the award being
presented by NY Governor Nelson Rockefeller. She was the recipient of
the same award in 1958.

In the 1960's, Peg's business model changed, and expanded to real
estate development with her son Michael, and business partners Peter
Sarkus, Lars Kallstrom, and Hunt Bradley, partners who along with Kimball Real Estate staff, became among the best of her friendships.

In 1991, she received the Realtor Emeritus award from the National
Association of Realtors, commemorating 50 years of association with
the Ithaca Board of Realtors, a rare and prestigious award. The
association also made her a lifetime member in New York State.

In addition to selling houses, Peg loved Cayuga Lake, gardening,
politics, family pets, her church, and especially spending time with
her grandchildren. Peg's love of people and ability to connect
nurtured both her business life, personal life, and sense of
fulfillment. She will be remembered for her strong work ethic, sense
of style, tell it like it is opinions, devotion to her business,
friendships, church and family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December
22, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at St Catherine of Siena Church in Ithaca, NY.
Calling hours will precede the Mass from 10:00 to 11:a.m. A reception
will follow the Mass at the Parish Center.
In lieu of flowers, tax deductible contributions may be made to El
Portal de Belen Foundation, a tax deductible foundation committed to serving the poorest of the
poor children in the Dominican Republic . Donations should be mailed
to St Catherine of Siena Parish, 302 St. Catherine Circle, Ithaca, NY 14850.
Arrangements are by the Bangs Funeral Home.