Marilyn H. (Mason) Peck

Marilyn H. Peck, aged 88, beloved wife and partner of Kenneth M. Peck died Saturday in Brigham and Woman’s hospital in Boston of heart failure.

Born on July 12, 1938, she was the daughter of Phillip Mason and Ruth Edwards Mason of Westwood, MA. She graduated from Simmons College in 1960. In 1962 she Married Allan Haskell and moved to Chicago. In 1979 she and her first husband divorced and in 1980 she moved back to MA. Where she and her husband Ken lived for 10 years before marring in 1990.

Marilyn was the Human Resources Director of N.O.R.C. (National Opinion Research Company) a division of the University of Chicago. She served as president of I.P.W. a fraternal group of Woman working in Human Resources. She was the Personal Director for Charles River Breeding Lab’s in Andover, MA. Shortly after Charles River was purchased by Bausch and Lomb, she decided to become a Realtor and work for C21 McLennen & Moriarty. When two of the top agents decided to start their own company she and her husband Ken joined them at Coco & Early Associates. She worked there until she retired in the late 1980’s.

Marilyn became a member of First Church Congregational, Methuen in 1990. She was a long term member of the Church Choir, Church Board Secretary, Chair of the Outreach Committee.  Marilyn and Ken served as Co-Chairs for the Church’s Annual George Washington Community Dinner for 7 years serving between 450 to 650 individuals each year. She has run or volunteered numerous dinners and events at the church. Served on two Search Committees, and in November 2017 Co-Chaired with her husband the weekly Neighbors In Need Food Pantry in Methuen, MA The first week we had 15 volunteers and served 5 client families, second week 15 volunteers and 12 client families and the third week we served roughly 174 client families. Marilyn had to step away from helping distribute food at the pantry because of both her heart and sciatica however, she continued to represent the Pantry at Church Board Meetings. 

Marilyn and Ken loved to go to many of the Fall Agricultural Fairs throughout New England and later the Scottish Highland Games throughout New England. Their very first Highland Games was in Lincoln, NH. They liked it so much that they decided the next year to go the North American Pipe Band Championship in Maxvillille, Ontario, Canada in 1997. They were blown away when they arrived and discovered that 100 different pipe bands were performing at the event. The highlight was watching all 100 bands (roughly 900 individuals) marching down a hill onto the field. They continued for the next 9 years. They also did a lot of short trips driving around NH, ME, MA, RI, VT, and CT. They also took 4 to 5 vacations a year to places like NC, San Diego, FL, IL, CA, WA, Scotland, and Monaco to name a few of the locations.

Marilyn loved flowers; singing, gardening, and having Ken cook as she would prefer not to cook. Even after 46 years she always over cooked the meat.    

In early 1992 she was diagnosed with serious congestive heart failure. She later had breast cancer and sciatica.  Both the weaken heart (ejection fraction of 19 to 23) and the pain from the sciatica caused them to curtailed their traveling. Marilyn and Ken took up watching tv shows like NCIS, FBI and CIA along with a goodly number of specials together. She also became a avid reader which Ken had always been. Marilyn and Ken were as different as night and day, ice and heat, however they both believe in the same basic values. That they try to live God’s Greatest Commandment “To love one another” to the best of their ability. They were both partners, companions, friends, lovers, and supporters of each other’s uniqueness. They truly supported each other in all ways.

Marilyn is survived by her husband Ken, brother John and wife Kathy Mason of Richmond, MA, their son David and Kathy Mason and son Jake of Fayetteville, NY; cousins Diji Taylor of Hopkinton, NH her two daughters Emily and husband Alex and their two daughters Anna, Isla, and Taylor-Ziko in Jackson NH; cousins Gerry and Bob Burnick of Pittsfield, MA, their daughter Corrine husband Dan and their sons Noah, Ben and AJ of Granby, CT Mary and Dick Jennings of Lenox, MA James Sargent of Harwichport, MA and Carla and Bill Weiners of Yarmouthport, MA.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at First Church Congregational, 26 Pleasant Street, Methuen, MA on Sunday October 11 at 12 pm.  Family and friends are welcome there will a light collation after the service. Arrangements are in the care of the Dewhirst Boles Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen, MA. To leave a message of condolence, please visit www.dewhirstfuneral.com

Contributions in her memory can be made to the First Congregational Food Pantry, 26 Pleasant Street, Methuen, MA 01844

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