Peggy Dacoros, 86, passed away on December 24, 2025.
Peggy Dacoros, born on June 14, 1939, in Pittsburgh, PA, lived a life defined by service, compassion, and devotion to family and community. She graduated from St. Peter High School in 1957 and earned a degree in elementary education from Mount Mercy College (now Carlow University) in 1962. Peggy began teaching immediately after college, sharing her love of learning with young students.
In 1963, she married the love of her life, Bill, and together they raised three daughters: Chris Dacoros-King (Ron King), Carol Lowry (Scott Lowry), and Donna DiPofi (Pio DiPofi IV).
After taking time away from her career to raise her family, Peggy returned to the workforce, accepting a position at a childcare center. As a working mother herself, she had a deep understanding of what quality childcare should look like for both children and families.
In 1985, recognizing a growing need for working women to have access to a safe, nurturing, and reliable place for their children, Peggy founded the first Bright and Early Learning & Child Care Center at Whitehall Elementary School, later expanding to include three additional locations serving the Baldwin-Whitehall area. For nearly 40 years, Bright and Early has provided high-quality childcare to countless families. When asked why the center endured for so long, Peggy humbly replied, "It's because we treat each child as an individual. Our goal is to provide quality childcare in a warm, secure environment." Her philosophy and hands-on dedication left a lasting impact on the children, parents, and staff whose lives she touched.
In addition to her three daughters, Peggy is survived by her beloved grandchildren: Veronica, Ian, Nathan, Mariah (Jordan Chuprinko) and Theresa King; Allison, Pio V and Sydney DiPofi; and Adam (Ellen), Nick and Brianna Lowry; and great-grandchildren Cameron and Ryder Lowry. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents, Vernon and Mary Michels; and her brothers, James and Raymond.
A woman of deep faith, Peggy was a devoted parishioner and Eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Loreto Church in Brookline. She also enjoyed time with friends through various card clubs and her involvement with the AARP chapter in Dormont, PA.
Peggy will be remembered for her kindness, her unwavering positivity, her commitment to children and education, her passion for reading, and the love she poured into her family and community.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, 301 Curry Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, 15236. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday, January 7 at 10:00 at St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish, St. Pius X Church, 3040 Pioneer Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15226. Family requests that everyone please meet at the church.
Online condolences may be shared at www.jeffersonmemorial.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank (pittsburghfoodbank.org).