Mary L. Peterson

Mary Louise Peterson, 90, of Preble Street and formerly of Manchester, New Hampshire, died Friday, January 16, 2015, at St. Josephs Rehabilitation Center in Portland. She was born in Portland on November 23, 1924, a daughter of Francis J. and Mary A. (McHugh) Connor. She grew up on Munjoy Hill, attended local schools, and graduated from Cathedral High School, class of 1942. She worked in the business office at New England Telephone Company. Mary married Anthony J. Peterson in Portland on March 31, 1952. She then moved to Manchester to raise her family. In pursuit of her lifelong desire to be a teacher, she enrolled in Notre Dame College in Manchester, New Hampshire, and while caring for four children, graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in 1972. She then began her teaching career, and taught second grade at Hallsville Elementary School, Manchester, New Hampshire for 16 years, before retiring in 1988. She was an avid sports fan, especially of the Red Sox, and was always up to date on team and player statistics. She was particularly fond of Dustin Pedroia and Terry Francona. She also enjoyed following the financial markets and had an uncanny ability to pick winning stocks. She relocated back to her hometown of Portland, Maine in 2008 to live with her sister and best friend Dottie Connor. She is predeceased by her husband, Anthony J Peterson and her sister Dorothy F Connor. She is survived by two daughters, Lynne Steiner and husband Nelson of St. Petersburg, Florida, and their sons Matthew and Ryan. Lisa Hebert of St. Petersburg, Florida and her daughter Layne. Two sons, Robert Peterson of Westbrook, Maine and Richard Peterson and wife Leslie of Manchester, New Hampshire, and their daughter Nicole and son Michael. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11:00 am, Friday, at Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road, South Portland. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. Arrangements are by Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Online condolence may be expressed at www.ctcrawford.com.