Mary E. Peterson

Mary E. Peterson, 101, of Sanford, passed away on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at the Greenwood Center where she had been a resident for the last two and half years. She was born in Swampscott, MA, on April 3, 1911, a daughter of the late William and Margaret (Gassman) Brennan.Mary always told the story of how in her day if you could not afford college you went to work for G.E. and found yourself an engineer. So that is what she did. She worked as an Ediphone operator for a year and snagged another engineer, Justin Peterson as a husband. He was seven years older than her and told her she better marry him quick, as she wasn't getting younger. They were married for many years until his death in 1987.She is predeceased by her sisters, Margaret (Peg) and Madeline Koch (Auntie Buster).She is survived by her only daughter, Joan Ring and her six grandchildren, Carol Cote and her husband, Roland, Debra Heath and her companion, Tom, Donna Ring, Frank Ring and his wife, Karen, James Ring and his wife, Cheryl, Jody Gourlay and her husband, Rob. She is also survived by her 14 great grandchildren, Steve and Scott Cote, Dawn Fogg, Carri Jacobson, Cory Woodsome, Casey Wiggins, Ben, Josh, and Matt Ring, Jim Ring, Jessica Pettingill, Josie Ring, Ella and Eben Gourlay. She is also survived by 14 great-great grandchildren and three great-great-great grandchildren. She has three wonderful nieces that have helped her extensively through the years. They are Polly Gautreau and her husband, Wayne, Marge St, Cyr and her husband, Norm, and Kathryn (Sis) Scott and her husband, Joe.She had a good life and she said she never had an ache or a pain and considered herself very fortunate.Visiting hours will be on Friday from 5 to 7PM at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. A graveside service will be held on Monday at 1PM at the Riverside Cemetery in Saugus, MA.Condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com