Obituary of Mary Catherine Peckham

Mary Catherine Peckham (nee Taylor), born in Crystal Beach, Ont. on Feb. 11, 1937, passed away at the Stratford Rotary Hospice on Nov. 23, 2023 at the age of 86.

Devoted wife to Robert W. Peckham, married on March 21, 1959.  Mother of Robert, deceased (Audrey); John (Carol), David (Amanda) and Barbara Hamilton (Don). Also survived by 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 

Mary graduated from Niagara Falls General Hospital School of Nursing, where she practiced following graduation. During her life, her husband and family lived in Ottawa, Niagara Falls, North Bay and London where she finished her career at Dearness Home Seniors Residence, retiring to a country home in Perth County near St. Marys. Family and friends are invited to RidgeView Community Church, 1470 Glenora Dr. London, on Sunday, December 3 for visiting from 1 pm until the time of the Funeral Service at 2 pm. 

If you are not a Christian, you will not see me. BUT, if you are a Christian
by accepting Jesus Christ as your saviour and follow His teachings, great, see you soon on the other side.

More of Mary's story:

Mary Catherine Peckham, nee Taylor was a devoted, caring and loving wife and mother. Mary and her husband Bob were parents of 4 children, 11 Grand Children, 5 Great Grand Children. Mary left us quietly on November 23rd at 10 am,

Born in Chrystal Beach Ontario, on February 11, 1937. Graduated from Niagara Falls General Hospital School of Nursing

Mary went on practicing her Profession at that Hospital, that is until family started coming along. You see she got married March 21, 1959, to Robert W. Peckham.

You would say she really loved her kids and of course her husband, as she did for them whatever she felt they needed.

Mary was so devoted to husband and family that when Bob sold his business and took a position in Ottawa with Electrohome, Mary was happy to go along for the ride. Five years later Bob resigned, and I was off on another adventure. Where we moved back to Niagara Falls for a year or so then up to North Bay to open the north for the Company.

This is where I got back into the business of helping people. Mary obtained a position as night Supervisor at Castel Home a Seniors Residence. Also, I told Bob its time to go back to church. Last Wednesday I went to a coffee club at the Baptist Church and I could not take my eyes off a Mary Kruger, there was something about her I didn't get. So, we headed to the Baptist Church. Upon arrival there was Mary Krugeer waiting for us at the entrance of the church. After all the introductions Mary asked us why we were there so early. Bob looked at his watch and said it's 2 minutes to 11 we thought we were going to be late. Mary Kruger answered this is the week you set your clocks back hour. God really know how to get you to where He wants you to go. This all became a turning point in our lives. We got deeply involved in the church and learned much what was needed to walk the Christian life. Still more to come though.

After a 4-5 year stay in North Bay, Bob took a position with a manufacture and went on the road selling their products which caused us to move to London Ontario.

Mary took a position with Dearness Home (seniors residence. The older building).

Spending more than 10 years in London the family grew spiritually and we got into a sideline business doing Christian Book Tables at various functions. This business caused us to think outside the box, we look to getting away from normal business to something along the line of selling Christian Books full time and as we thought more about it we finally set goals and went for it.

Mary talked to an evangelist from our church at Christmas time, telling him what our plans were for the long run. Gerry suggested we contact his father-in-law as he had a store in Hanover to sell, he wanted to retire. Making a long story short we bought the store in Hanover and away we went again.

Once this deal was confirmed as we needed to sell the sideline business and our house in the next 60 days for the amount needed to close the deal. You guessed it, God saw things happen in time. Off and running to Hanover.

On our way up moving to Hanover Bob told me we would only run the store for 10 years as God had told him we were to take it over and turn it into a viable business as well as having a Christian way about it.

There are many stories to tell you about how we helped people obtain the book or music they needed and how we helped people come to the full knowledge in Jesus Christ. But that is for their Obituary.

Coming close to the 10-year point we were to sell the business we started looking for the person to carry the business on. How this happened is another story but we can see how God prepared us to provide the information needed to the prospect. This happened on God's schedule. And, with someone we might never have found otherwise.

That story is worth telling. One day in mid November, Bob received a phone call from a person in Winnipeg that were starting up a new business of Christian "T" Shirts. Bob told them we were looking to sell the business and we were not taking on any new suppliers. 10 minutes later the same person called back and asked if we had tried advertising the business in the Christian Weekly. Long story short we placed an add in the Paper and waited. About a week or so later we get a phone call from a person in the Kitchener area wanting to come and view the store.

We arranged to meet them at closing time at store where they could view the store and we could answer any questions they may have. We also gave them all necessary information they  required. A few days later Colin Robertshaw called back to make arrangements to buy the business and I knew God was in this, so we looked forward to meeting him again.

Making a long story short again he offered to buy the business and we sold it to them with a closing date June 2. (10 years plus or minus a day, how is that for leaving things to God).

After a couple of moves here we are on a farm in Perth County just outside of St. Marys.

Here I am at 86 years 9 months and 5 days old and Bob didn't plan this move. God my Father, Jesus His son and the Holy Spirit in me planned all this before the beginning of time. Praise God.

If you’re not a Christian you will not see me BUT, if you are a Christian by accepting Jesus Christ as your saviour and follow His teachings, great, see you soon on the other side.

Thank You Jesus.

Yours Mary