Margaret Colleen-Cummings O’Brian passed away peacefully in the loving arms of her family at N.C. Little Hospice on May 30, 2025, after a valiant battle with a rare type of cancer. Physicians, surgeons and various health care providers had determined that she was "one in a million”. Anyone that knew Margaret would agree that she truly was one in a million.

Margaret was born in Richfield, MN on April 28, 1957 to Frances M. and James Patrick Cummings. She graduated from Richfield High School and earned her BA from Metropolitan State University in Communications. That was a perfect degree for her, as she was a gifted communicator. 

While continuing to pursue her degree, she worked at Federal Express (FedEx) entering as a customer service agent. She then progressed to training customers in the use of shipping software. Margaret was awarded a trip to the South of France and Cannes for her accomplishments as one of the top trainers in the country. Margaret’s pride in her career accomplishments was nothing compared to what she felt for her family. Her husband Tom was the love of her life. Together they had two incredible children, Colin (35) and Megan (30), who have lost their dedicated mom too early. Margaret was also a wonderful friend—loyal, kind, generous, and with an undying work ethic that didn’t fail her, even as she dealt with her devastating diagnosis. She continually placed others first when a friend needed her, and in turn, her many friends rallied around her and her family, becoming their “village” during her final months. 

Margaret is a woman of faith and always believed, as evidenced in her embracing the words of 1 Corinthians 13, owning the qualities of faith, hope, and love, “the greatest of these is love.” It was love that she learned from, and shared with Tom and her children, and it was their love and the love of her friends and family that sustained her to the end. She learned the phrase "earn the right to be heard" from her growth in her faith from YoungLife, where she served as a leader, gaining that right from a number of high school students. She further developed that philosophy as she shared stories and relationships with students and committee members alike.

Margaret had developed a penchant for traveling, and had begun reaching out various destinations across the globe after their honeymoon brought her to Mazatlan, Mexico. Some of those destinations included Brazil, Costa Rica, Italy, Germany, and even Russia. She packed her bags and traveled with the United States Bandy team, as a spectator, donning every piece of insulated outerwear and underwear, and braved the cold in Siberia. She, and her American friends were dressed so warmly, and colorfully, that a journalist paid special attention to them, and printed their image in Sports Illustrated magazine. She had the gift of adding color to any event that she attended. 

Margaret was preceded in death by her mother and father, Frances and James Patrick Cummings, her sister Marsha Buchok, and her nephew James ‘Jim’ Buchok.

Margaret is survived by her husband Tom O’Brian, her son Colin O’Brian, daughter-in-law Jessica O’Brian, granddaughter Kennedy (age 1), daughter Megan O’Brian, her sisters Kathy Cummings (John Thoma), Patti Just, Barb (Keith) Forsman, Annette (Ted) Beach, and Caroline (Jerry) Jackson, her nieces and nephews Josh, Nate (Raya), and Ben (Amber) Thoma, Tom (Liz) Buchok, Anna (Henry) Aschauer, Alex and Katherine Beach, Tyler (Madison) and Maggie Jackson, and her great-nieces and nephews. 

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2025,

at Westwood Community Church, 3121 Westwood Drive, Excelsior, MN 55331.

Visitation 10:00am. Memorial Service 11:00am. Luncheon 12:00pm - 1:30pm.

Livestream available 15 minutes prior to Service on Westwoodcc.org.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in honor of Margaret. Please channel them to any of the following:

1. YoungLife - younglife.org Crosstown YoungLife - 7132 Portland Ave South, Richfield MN 55423

2. Westwood Community Church - 3121 Westwood Drive, Excelsior, MN 55331

3. Methodist Hospital Hospice - 6500 Excelsior Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN 55426