Gill & Margo Hayes

Margo: September 28, 1939 - December 7, 2020
Gill: February 12, 1935 - March 5, 2019

Several times a year before his death in 2019 Gill Hayes would slide into the Bread of Life offices with a wide smile and light in his eyes to make a donation in honor of his wife, Margo - for Christmas, birthdays, and other occasions. She in turn made regular donations to the Sacramento Food Bank, his charity of choice. Together in 2018 they established the Margo and Gill Hayes Fund at Bread of Life with the intent that it be used to gather support for whatever needs might arise. They chose lives of generosity and service and we are deeply honored by their gift of love here.

Both Margo and Gill had been enthusiastic supporters of Bread of Life since our beginning. Both were dedicated to cultivating the spiritual life knowing it critical to their own life and health together. They saw it not as an extra but as an essential.

Margo joined the board at a critical passage in 2005 when Bread of Life was becoming a separate non-profit. She brought a discerning heart to the many questions that needed to be weighed to have a transition of integrity. Aligning what we do with who we say we are was a core value for her. She went on to join our Resource Development Committee where she actively encouraged others to support the Bread of Life mission of cultivating practices that transform lives, organizations, and communities.

With a B.A. in Child Development and an M.A. in Social Work, she initially taught at a nursery school and then had a private therapy practice for 22 years. Part of that practice included inviting clients into sand tray work where images express deeper patterns of the soul in its healing journey. She sought to actively develop this aspect of herself after retirement, frequenting arts-based workshops and experiences through our Spirit in the Arts program (since spun off). She loved bringing grandchildren with her to experience soul expanding processes of personal exploration.

Their spirit of loving service lives on as a lasting gift to us and to many. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to share life with them for over 15 years and are honored to be included as a place of tribute for Margo. Click below to make your donation to the Margo and Gill Hayes Fund.

We join daughter Marjorie Maehler and son Stephen Hayes and families in celebrating the goodness and lasting legacy of their lives.