Some people spend their lives following the rules and societal norms. Maggie Rose Macri was never particularly interested in being one of them.

Maggie, 41, of Alstead, New Hampshire, passed away on October 2, 2026, leaving behind a lifetime of memories, friends, and a world that will never be quite the same without her.

Born April 9, 1985, Maggie grew up in Alstead, NH, surrounded by the land, animals, and people that would shape her life. A free spirit in every sense of the word, Maggie lived unapologetically on her own terms. She was fiercely independent, wonderfully stubborn, strong, and larger than life. A competitor, an adventurer, and an absolute force of nature, Maggie was never going to be anyone other than exactly who she was.

Maggie possessed an extraordinary gift with animals, particularly Morgan horses. Whether she was in the barn, working with a horse, or massaging one beneath her hands, she was exactly where she belonged. Among the horses who shaped her life, one held an irreplaceable place in her heart: Pentium, affectionately known as Calvin. Together, they shared the kind of partnership horse people spend their lives hoping to find.

As much as Maggie belonged in the barn, she belonged in the woods, too. Some of her happiest moments were spent exploring alongside her three beloved boys and her dogs. Just as she lived freely, she encouraged her children to do the same: to explore, get dirty, embrace adventure, and, most importantly, be unapologetically themselves. Perhaps her greatest legacy is not simply the freedom with which she lived, but the freedom she taught her boys to embrace.

Maggie is survived by her life partner, Marcus Stuart Vannini; her sons, Trajan, Jupiter, and Zorian; her father, Fran Macri, and his wife, Debbie; her mother, Heidi Bridgewater, and her husband, John; her sisters, Jami and Johanna; and countless friends and members of the horse community whose lives she touched. She was predeceased by her beloved infant son, Phoenix, with whom she is now reunited.

Although her final chapter came far sooner than anyone could have imagined, Maggie faced it with the same remarkable strength that defined her life. In her final days, she spoke of being tired, but also of being at peace and unafraid.

Forty-one years could never have been enough for someone with so much life in her. Yet Maggie never measured life by the clock, the calendar, or anyone else’s expectations. She measured it in moments, adventures, muddy boots, hoofbeats, laughter, and love.

And somewhere, beyond the fences and trails of this world, we’d like to believe she’s doing what she loved most: gallivanting through the woods, Calvin beneath her, her beloved animals nearby, free as she’s always been.

A service celebrating Maggie’s life will be held November 7 at 1:00 p.m. at Grace Community Evangelical Free Church, 49 Old Swanzey Road, Spofford, NH 03462.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions for Maggie’s sons are greatly appreciated. Donations may be made online at https://gofund.me/e66e71681. Checks may be made payable to Macri-Vannini and mailed to 197 West Swanzey Road, Swanzey, NH 03406.