MARY T. PEATE

MARY T. PEATE ESSEX - Mary Teresa (Todd) Peate, 84, died peacefully in Green Mountain Nursing Home in Colchester, on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012. She was born in Mimico, Ontario, on May 13, 1927, daughter of the late Valent and Augusta (Choate) Todd. Mary was a writer of fiction, non-fiction, comedy, radio and TV scripts, and a radio broadcaster for the CBC. She is the author of a memoir trilogy: Girl in a Red River Coat [1970; second edition 2005, Montreal Gazette Best Seller; Girl in a Sloppy Joe Sweater [1989]; Girl in a CBC Studio [2000], nominated for the Stephen Leacock Humor Prize 2000. Chapters from her books have been anthologized in five Canadian specialty books, as well as Canadian text books. She wrote and hosted her own radio show, Tea & Trumpets [aired on CBC from 1958 through 1965] heard throughout Canada, the States bordering Canada, 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle, France and Germany. During her show's seven year run, she wrote for and appeared on Don McNeill's Breakfast Club, and wrote daily editorials for him, for Flair. Both these shows aired on ABC out of Chicago. During this time Mary also released the comedy album, If You Lived Here, You'd be Home Now [1963]. Mary also did runway modeling, print ads, fashion layouts and TV commercials in Montreal in the 1950s-60s. After a 27 year career at the CBC, she moved to California [1980-93], where she contributed to the Los Angeles Times, a number of West Coast publications and wrote a weekly column for the Los Angeles Daily News in the late 1980s. Since 1993, she lived in Williston and later, Essex. Her work has appeared in Vermont Life Magazine; The Burlington Free Press; and she conducted a Life History Writing Workshop for the women of UVM for 10 years. Mary was totally captivated by the written word and happiest when reading, her favorite authors - Charles Dickens, Henry David Thoreau and J.D. Salinger. She was also an avid jazz fan and collector of antiques, memorabilia and dolls. Mary saw the humor in almost any situation; her wit was razor sharp. She is survived by her two sons, George Peate and wife, Michele, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Rick Peate and wife, Debbie, of Williston; her daughter, Candy Padula and husband, Chuck, of Westford; her grandchildren, James, Dan, Mary Clare, Joe, John and Angela; and her great- grandchildren, Sophia, Madeline, Danny and Anthony. She is predeceased by her husband, Robert Peate. Visiting hours will be held at A. W. Rich Funeral Home, Essex Chapel, 57 Main St., Essex Junction, on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, from 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, at 10 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Essex Junction, with Reverend Richard Tinney officiating. Burial will be held in the family plot, at Holy Family Cemetery, in the spring. The family invites you to share your memories and online condolences by visiting www.awrichfuneralhomes.com.