Obituary of Mary Peterson

Ruth's loved ones, by blood and by bond, honour her life and its passing; a woman whose life is a rich tapestry of love, laughter, and family. We are all woven into the pattern of this, memory by memory, over the span of our lives, that likewise bring us together in our shared love and respect for this mother, grandmother, wife, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, and friend; whose impact on our lives runs deep. Her fierce independence was evident in everything she did, and her candid speech was tempered only by her very long fuse (whose end was admittedly explosive once reached!) The woman merely had to look at a plant, and it would bloom back to life, as though it was eager to feel the touch of her fingertips. That same touch was able to bring a drawing to life on everything from paper napkin to a canvas, learning an appreciation for painting at her father's knee, an accomplished artist who works adorn the Beaverbrook Gallery, not to mention nearly every wall in her home. The first child born on the Juniper family homestead, she was actually eleventh of fifteen siblings born to Dora and Fred Grant: Anna, Levi (d.2006), Isabel, Douglas (d.1954), Freddie (d.2011), Grace, Lila (Leslie), Ida, Frances, George (Edie), Joan, Harley (d.1995), Elwood (Charlene), Amy (Mike). The bond with her siblings and family was paramount to this woman, who left this warm hearth for her newlywed's family home on River Street, where she remained for over a half century. With the support of a wonderful bygone era of neighbourhood around her, Ruth raised a family with her husband Mac, (who predeceased her December 24, 2005). Their own relationship budded as they built a life of love, gardens, jigsaw puzzles, and new branches of the very extensive family along with brothers-in-law, Arnold, Weldon Jr., Buddy (Claudia); sister-in-law, Louise; not to mention countless nieces and nephews. Three generations live and live on, imbued with her strength: the light of her life, her children Heather (Harry Veino), Angela Somerville (Jerry), Malcolm (Heather); her grandchildren Stephany, Jesse, Sarah, Mary, AJ, Joshua (d.1997), Emma, Sam, Joel; great-grandchildren Lilly, Abagail, Bentley, Skylar. Join us for a celebration of the life of a woman beyond compare: with visitation at York Funeral Home, 302 Brookside Drive, Fredericton, NB on Sunday, June 22, 2014 from 6 – 8 pm, and a Memorial Service at York Funeral Home’s T. Gordon MacLeod Memorial Chapel on Monday, June 23, 2014 at 2 pm with Rev. Paul Thompson officiating. A reception will follow in the Fireside Room. For those who wish, remembrances may be made in Ruth’s memory to the charity of the donor’s choice. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com