Margaret Ann (Hanna) Silvernale

(June 20, 1930 - September 6, 2023)

Margaret Ann Silvernale was called home to her Lord on September 6, 2023, while residing at her home in Ashburn, Virginia.  Margaret was born on June 20, 1930, in Mapleton, Minnesota to Richard L. Hanna and Adoline Hanna. Margaret was the youngest of two children.

Margaret is preceded in death by her parents Richard and Adoline Hanna and her beloved brother Bruce Hanna, as well as her former husband Col. Douglas John Silvernale.

Margaret grew up on a small farm where she learned the importance of hard work and Christian values. After graduating high school, Margaret attended Mankato State Teachers College. Upon graduation, Margaret was proud to receive a job as a teacher in the Rochester, Minnesota school system.

She soon married and began a 32 - year career as an Army officer's wife and mother. In that role, Margaret traveled the world, always ensuring that her family took every advantage of the locations in which they lived. She instilled in her children her mid-western values and made sure that they knew they were loved and supported in anything they did.

Margaret loved to study the Bible as well as history. When she settled in Northern Virginia, she loved to visit all of the area's historical sights and especially loved the Shenandoah mountains. As a young child, she read a book about the Shenandoah mountains and found the name enchanting. She would often recount how, as a child, she had never heard such a beautiful word. Margaret was also very proud of growing up in a Scottish community and loved the writings of Robert Burns. As a result, she would often recite The Selkirk Grace.

As her children got older, Margaret returned to teaching and taught in the Fairfax County Public School System for many years. After retirement, she focused her time and attention on her eight grandchildren, whom she often took with her on adventures that she would document in narrated picture albums. She would also use the skills she learned on the farm to make birthday cakes and Halloween costumes for her children and grandchildren.

Margaret is survived by her children Ann Omta (Kevin) of Grandview, Washington, David Silvernale (Andrea) of Leesburg, Virginia, Bruce Silvernale (Gina) of Warrenton, Virginia; her grandchildren; Kristopher Nielsen, Daniel Nielsen, Richard Nielsen, Schyler Omta, Andrew Silvernale, Ashley Luehr, Jack Silvernale and Juliana Silvernale; her great grandchildren; Emily, Case, Boden, Levi, Duke and Charley Ann; her nieces and nephews; Scott Hanna, David Hanna, Debbie Bird and Mary Jane Edlefsen.

A visitation will be held at Colonial Funeral Home located at 201 Edwards Ferry Rd. NE, in Leesburg, Virginia on Friday September 15, 2023, from 10:00 - 11:00 AM. A funeral service will immediately follow. Following the service, a graveside dedication will take place at Ebenezer Cemetery located at 20421 Airmont Road, Bluemont, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Margaret's honor may be made to Capital Caring (Hospice Provider) located at 209 Gibson Street NW, Leesburg, Va 20176. (www.capitalcaring.org)

The family would like to also thank the wonderful staff of the memory care unit (Maple Grove) of Ashby Ponds Senior Living Community, located at 21170 Ashby Ponds Blvd, Ashburn, Virginia, 20147. Their love and dedication to the patients under their care is unmatched.