Mary Lou Delaporta Peck

Mary Lou Delaporta Peck passed away on Sunday, September 2, 2018 surrounded by her family and dear friend at home. She had been fighting cancer for over 5 years.

Mary Lou spent her first few years in her Lebanese grandparent’s house on Homes Street in New London, where she attended the Saltonstall School. Her family moved to Quaker Hill where she attended Waterford schools and then St. Bernard School for high school. She was especially proud of her classmates and education.

As Mary Lou pursued a degree in fine arts, watercolors were her specialty, she attended Emmanuel College in Boston and then transferred to UCONN to finish her degree.

Mary Lou has had many jobs throughout her career. She taught at NFA, kept books at The Steak Loft, owned a catering company, worked in the Mystic Seaport’s Art Department, and managed at Recycled Paper Products. Upon the arrival of her daughter in 1991, she became the owner and manager of the Adams House Bed & Breakfast and also worked with her childhood friend Charlotte at Thames River Greenery.

Mary Lou’s first marriage was to Andy Smith. In 1990 she met Gregory Peck and they married shortly after and raised their daughter Marissa in the Bed & Breakfast.

Mary Lou is survived by three sisters – Donna Perry, Debbie Delaporta, and Franny Sission – and their children and grandchildren.

We thank Center for Hospice Care Southeast CT for their compassion and devotion to our family in Mary Lou’s final weeks of life. We are also grateful for all of the doctors who worked on our team over the years, especially the healing touch of Mary Lou’s friend Marya Ursin and Dr. David Schwindt’s acupuncture for Mary Lou’s stroke recovery.

We are grateful for all of the love and wonderful food Mary Lou brought to our lives. Her cooking and wise words of advice will be missed but also will live through all with whom she shared her gifts.

Contributions can be made in memory of Mary Lou Peck to the following organizations:

Mystic Museum of Art’s educational outreach programs to regional schools. Mary Lou proudly served on the board of directors in the 1980’s. https://www.mysticmuseumofart.org/support/annual-appeal/
Capital Roots’ commercial kitchen project, which is being built to give space for small food-based businesses to thrive and grow in New York’s Capital Region. Lack of access to a commercial kitchen was what ultimately forced Mary Lou to close her catering business. Mary Lou’s daughter, Marissa, has been working for Capital Roots since she graduated from college in 2014. https://www.nycharities.org/give/donate.aspx?cc=3965