Mary Elizabeth O’Gara Pelt

Mary was born May 28, 1928 in Pittsfield, MA. She was raised in Dalton, MA and as a young girl she loved dancing, cooking, baking, sewing, skiing the Berkshire Mts, attending her brothers’ sporting events, and most of all going to her Grandparents’ house every Sunday for those big, Irish, Catholic family dinners. She also used to say with a smile that she was her Grandmother’s favorite.

Mary went to Dalton High School and said those years were hard because of World War II. She said everything was rationed and most of the young men and male teachers were being sent off to fight. She made the most of it by spending time with friends, swimming at her Aunt Mary’s lake house and praying a lot! She graduated in 1946 and was accepted into The Laboratory Institute of Merchandising in New York City. This small, town girl was going to move to the Big City! She went off with only one small suitcase and a lot of courage.

She loved being at school, but would occasionally take the train to her Aunt Mary’s home on the weekend in N.J. Her Uncle got her a job working for the store he managed called Sears, Roebuck & Co. It was there that she met and married her husband, Elwyn “EJ” Pelt. He had just returned home from the war and was working at the same store. He had his eye on her and asked her to a dance. She thought he was a big show off at first, but then they started dating. On June 12, 1949 they married and got to dance together for almost 56 years. They were two of the most beautiful dancers you would ever see.

Mary spent the next two decades being a devoted wife and mother. She went back to school and became involved in the medical field. She worked and managed an OB/GYN office for almost 25 years. In March of 1988 she retired and soon after moved to Citrus Springs, FL. It was there that she became an active and loving volunteer to her church and community, serving in many clubs and organizations. She was an officer of her Catholic Women’s Guild, Founder and Chairwoman of the Tricky Tray committee, delivered many Meals on Wheels, served food to the homeless, made meals for families who were grieving and gave countless hours for anything St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Catholic Church or parish asked of her.

In 2004, Mary and EJ moved to St. Johns, FL. She became a member of San Juan del Rio Catholic Church and again became active helping that parish start a Tricky Tray Committee. It became one of San Juan’s largest fundraisers. She was also a member of Bartram Trail Newcomers Club, 50+ Club, Domino Club, Bunko Club and a volunteer for the American Cancer Society. Did we also happen to mention she was a 25-year survivor of breast cancer? She beat the odds many times and some would say the luck of the Irish was with her. Mary loved to travel, spend time with her friends and family and above all else she was a faithful servant who loved The Lord. She was an amazing daughter, sister, woman, Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother. She was a kind, thoughtful, faithful, and humble lady who will be deeply missed and forever loved.

Mary was the daughter of the late Martin and Katherine O’Gara. She is predeceased by her husband Elwyn “EJ” Pelt. She is survived by her children: Gary (Audrey) Pelt of Bluffton, SC., Daniel (Patricia) Pelt of Branchville, N.J. and Donna (Bob) Leonard of St. Johns, FL. She left behind 7 grandchildren: Erin (Simon) Foster, Kyle Pelt, Ryan (Tina) Pelt, Ashley (Russell) Bellis, Christi Leonard, Amy Leonard and Nicole Leonard. In addition, her 5 great grandchildren Berkley, Easton, Russell, Mackenzie and Atlas will miss her.

A celebration of her life will be announced some time next year and in lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Mary Pelt’s memory be sent to:

Community Hospice & Palliative Care

4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257 attn: Foundation or by calling and making a donation in her memory to The American Cancer Society 1-800-227-2345.

Arrangements by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL (904) 288-0025.