Mary Eleanor Hedden Peck of County Highway 155, Gloversville, passed away on Thursday, November 15, 2018, at the Mountain Valley Hospice House following a brief illness, three weeks after celebrating her 90th birthday.
She was born in Johnstown on October 24, 1928, a daughter of Peter and Prosperine Bazerque Hedden and attended St. Patrick’s School. Mary was a 1946 graduate of Johnstown High School. She was married to Richard C. Peck in 1948, and they spent many happy years raising their family in Johnnycake Hollow on Gifford’s Valley Road in Northville. Mary moved to Petoff Garden Apartments in 2009 where she met many new friends while cherishing those she already had.
Mary worked as a bookkeeper and commercial representative for General Telephone at the Northville office and later as a bookkeeper and dispatcher for Paul Bradt Contractors in Northville. She worked for many years as an election inspector for Fulton County.
Mary was a communicant at St. Francis Church in Northville for decades before moving to Vail Mills and becoming a member of St. Joseph’s Church in Broadalbin. She was a member of the choir, the Altar Rosary Society, and volunteered at the church office.
Mary was involved for many years in several veterans’ organizations, serving as President of the Fulton County American Legion Auxiliary (Northville Unit), Fourth District President, Department Chairman of Americanism and Co-Chairman of Empire Girl’s State. As a member of La Societe de Femmes, of the 40 et 8, Mary served as State President and National Vice President. She was an active member of the Marine Corps League Auxiliary.
Mary belonged to the Sacandaga Task Force for Senior Living for several years and served on their Advisory Board. She was also a member of the Broadalbin Senior Citizens and the Sacandaga Seniors.
In her spare time, Mary enjoyed painting, reading and doing the New York Times crossword puzzles. She loved to travel, and was fortunate to travel to Hawaii, Ireland and France. Mary had plans to travel to the Holy Land this month but was unable to due to her recent illness and subsequent hospitalization.
She was blessed with a large and loving family. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of fifty six years, Richard Peck; a son, Gavin Peck; a daughter-in-law, Colleen Peck; a granddaughter, Veronica Peck; and a sister, Aline Hedden Prohaska.
Survivors include three sons, Leon Peck, Scott (Anne) Peck, and Anthony (Elena) Peck; a daughter-in-law, Lorri Peck; a sister, Eloise Hedden Sponenberg; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mary was devoted to her seven grandchildren, Christian, Stephen, Eric, Andrew, and David Peck, Marisa and Anthony Barron, and Elizabeth Peck as well as her twelve great-grandchildren, Bridget, Charlotte, Camille, Kai, Cairo, Hendrix, Austin, Enzo, Dutch, Chloe, Isis and Summer. The greatest joy in Mary’s life was watching her children and grandchildren grow to adulthood and to have them visit her in the beautiful Adirondack area. Her steadfast faith and trust in God and her belief in the goodness of life were her everlasting guideposts.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, 7 North Street, Broadalbin, with the Rev. Jun Segura, officiating. Calling hours will be held on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Robert M. Halgas Funeral Home Inc., 111 County Highway 106 (corner of Route 29 and Black Street), Johnstown. Burial will be in the spring at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Johnstown. Memorial contributions may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, in care of the funeral home.
