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Mary Torosian Graves

1926 - 2022

Mary Torosian Graves obituary, 1926-2022, Peterborough, NH

BORN

1926

DIED

2022

FUNERAL HOME

Jellison Funeral Home and Cremation Services

25 Concord Street

Peterborough, New Hampshire

Mary Graves Obituary

Mary Torosian Graves

Peterborough NH — Mary Torosian Graves, 96, was fiercely proud of her Armenian heritage. Born in 1926, she grew up in Concord, NH, speaking Armenian, Turkish, and English.

Mary graduated from Plymouth State Teacher's College in 1948, and met her husband, Donald, in 1950; they married one year later in New Jersey, where they lived until moving to Peterborough in 1954. Here, she continued to teach elementary school until they started a family. Together Mary and Don undertook many renovations and house-building projects in the Monadnock region; she was the designer, he could build, rebuild, or repair anything. Often, she was so impatient to see the final result that she was painting faster than he could hammer. After Don passed away in 1981, Mary continued to design houses, several of which were built in Peterborough and Dublin; created a line of greeting cards that were works of art; and kept an eye on the real-estate listings. Real estate was irresistible.

She moved many times; collected many antiques; had three cast-iron cauldrons. She played classical piano, painted watercolors, knitted, sewed, read like crazy, drew house plans endlessly, never had a tv or a credit card. She traveled with a tape measure, and she knew how to use a Sawzol, although sometimes it might have been better if she hadn't.

In her heyday, Mary tackled the town of Peterborough on issues that were important to her, or when she felt there were inequities, or that rules were being applied inconsistently. She wrote hundreds of strong, articulate letters to the local newspapers. She was known to picket the town hall—an act of great courage, as she was often the only one standing there. She carried a tape recorder to planning board meetings, and she spoke up even when her voice shook.

It was a great honor for her to meet candidate Barack Obama, and speak to him several times. She barely came up to his shoulder, but on one occasion she motioned him down, and said how proud his parents must have been. Dressed in her white cape on a bitterly cold day, he told her she looked like a little snowflake.

Her last seven years were spent surrounded by love and imagination at Summerhill Assisted Living, where people were supportive of her art and creativity. It is hard to imagine a kinder, more loving environment. Mary was thrilled to have several art shows while living there, including one at the Jaffrey Civic Center, and she fully explored the intricacies of Zendoodle designs, creating masterful images.

Above all, Mary was a seeker. Seeking beauty, seeking balance, seeking peace. Her mind was curious and agile. And over the course of a long, full lifetime, she was also seeking answers. She pursued a spiritual quest, often frustrated by the lack of concrete details. She is surely finding answers now, seeing beauty, and feeling peace.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Annie Graves, of Peterborough; her devoted son-in-law, Mel Allen, and his sons Dan and Josh; also a son, Jonathan. A small private service was held at the family gravesite. "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

To share a memory, or to leave the family a message, please visit Mary's tribute page at www.jellisonfuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Monadnock Ledger-Transcript on Sep. 20, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
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5 Entries

Steven Graves

September 24, 2022

Condolences and love to the family.
Mary was one of the first people I met when I moved to town 20 years ago.
She was very kind to me.

Mary Jane Lambert

September 18, 2022

Mary was my son´s first grade teacher at Peterborough elementary, 53 years ago. She was a wonderful teacher who made every child in the class feel important and loved. She hugged every student as they entered the classroom in the morning and again as they left at the end of the day. My son still talks about her and days that in all 12 years of school, she was his best/favorite teacher and he will never forget her. Recently, I found a note that she wrote to him 53 years ago and I sent it to him in FL.
My husband and I volunteered at her wonderful "magical shoppes" (my words) at 105 Grove St. in Peterborough. It was like a magical fantasyland of tiny streets (in the building) with individual little shops each with their own entrance and display windows. She was so talented and so much fun! I hope some others remember those shops!
Our condolences to you Annie, and the family.
Mary Jane & Bob Lambert

Peter & Edith Tuttle

September 16, 2022

It's our luck to have met Mary... and to live in one of the houses she designed. It's just a wonderful building, comfortable and cozy, and yet at the same time with windows looking happily out into the world. We're grateful every day to be living here.

-Peter & Edith Tuttle

Mary Elizabeth Oleson

September 16, 2022

My Aunt Mary was as magical as a fairy godmother to me. As a child, I spent time with her and was enthralled by her stories, her voice, her artwork, and her kindness. With her glorious black hair and distinctive
clothing, she was my enchanting bohemian aunt. When my sister and I would write letters to Santa, we would receive illustrated replies from this talented and loving lady who made Santa and the work of his elves seem quite remarkable... and that was because she was remarkable. I loved this woman dearly. She gave me my first glimpse of fashion, mystery, and art. I am so grateful for her presence in my life. We have lost a treasure.

Jellison Funeral Home and Cremation Services The staff at Jellison Funeral Home

September 16, 2022

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Funeral services provided by:

Jellison Funeral Home and Cremation Services

25 Concord Street, Peterborough, NH 03458

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