Mary Ann Peters, 78, of Edgecomb, died peacefully at her home on the morning of Jan. 11 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on July 27, 1933 in New York City, the first of five children of Mary and Raymond Hayes. Mary was married June 6, 1953 to John Peters and raised five children. She attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Grade School and Bishop McDonald Diocesan High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. She worked 20 years before retiring from the Town Attorney’s Office of the Town of Islip on Long Island, N.Y. As a wife and mother, Mary resided in Central Islip and Brightwaters, N.Y. before retiring to Maine in 1991.
A devoted wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, aunt and loyal friend to all who knew her, Mary will be remembered as a kind and caring woman with a quiet, quick wit who regularly sent Thank You cards for receiving Thank You notes; and a great cook who could whip up dinner for a Little League baseball team on a moment’s notice and make it look like it had been planned for weeks.
Mary spent her life raising and taking care of her family; she loved to cook – especially for crowds and her large family; a great sock-matcher; loved to read with her Book Club in Damariscotta, and trim with the Wiscasset Garden Club; a master crossword puzzler, happy to always find a partner for Scrabble. Mary was a busy and long-time volunteer for the Miles Memorial Hospital League in the Hospital Gift Shop, the annual Hospital League Rummage Sale, Tour Guide for the Hospital League Home & Garden Tour and on the Hospital League Cookbook Committee. She also served for many years on the bereavement reception committee and with the St. Patrick Shamrocks at St. Patrick Church.
Mary is predeceased by her parents, Raymond and Mary Hayes; sister, Patricia Craven; parents-in-law, George and Margaret Peters; brother-in-law, Thomas Sheppard; and great-nephew, baby Jordan Hayes.
Mary is survived by her husband of 58 years, John; children, Jack Peters, Stephen Peters, Thomas Peters, Elaine Schultheiss, and Susan Peters; daughters-in-law, Lynn Murphy, Dorothy Peters and Haiyan Peters; son-in-law, Arthur Schultheiss, and friend Nancy Blomberg; Mimi leaves behind 10 adoring grandchildren, Jacklyn, Lynsie, Matthew, Ryan, Jinjin and John Peters, and Christine, Stephanie Julianne and Arthur John (AJ) Schultheiss; sister, Eileen Hendrick and husband Ronn; sister, Jean Sheppard; brother, Raymond Hayes and wife Mary; 16 nieces and nephews, Jim Craven and wife Nancy, Bob Craven and wife Aihua, Laurie Shoemaker and husband Steve; Patty Jackson and husband Larry; Ray, Neil, Glenn and Gary Hendrick, Jeannie Hendrick-Perales and husband Dan; Paul Sheppard; Tricia Buckley and husband Mike; Kathy Fernandez and husband Carlos; Tommy Sheppard; Ray and Shane Hayes; Christina Taylor-Hayes; 22 great-nieces and great-nephews, Michael, Brianna, Kyle, Cailean, Fiona, Mick, Declan, Sinead, Amanda, Kique, Luci, Ajna, Isajah, Cheyanne, Brittany, Alexis, Benjamin Franklin, Jessica and husband Stefan, Christopher, Vincent, Matt, and Jay; special friends known as the St. Patrick Back-Row Ladies and the St. Patrick Shamrocks, lifelong friends, Margaret & Bill Heenan, Mildred Finneran, Peggy Reinhart, Joan O’Connor and the Central Islip CYO Gang.
Visitation 4-6 p.m., Sun., Jan. 15 at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta. Funeral mass of Christian burial 12 p.m., Mon., Jan. 16 at St. Patrick’s Church, Academy Hill Rd., Newcastle with interment at St. Patrick Cemetery. A reception will follow in Cheverus Hall at St. Patrick’s.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Patrick Church, PO Box 598, Newcastle, ME 04553; or Miles Memorial Hospital League, PO Box 503, Damariscotta, ME 04543.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be shared by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, Damariscotta.