Mary Catherine Peterson

October 4, 1931 – March 19, 2025

Mary Catherine Peterson, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 93. Born on October 4, 1931, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Mary was the daughter of Howard and Anna Shirey.

Mary graduated from Bremerton High School in 1950 and went on to work for Pacific Northwest Bell, dedicating 28 years of service before retiring in 1983. During her time there, she formed lifelong friendships and was a founding member of the retiree group fondly known as “The Call Girls”, who gathered monthly for over 40 years.

On February 19, 1960, Mary married, Orvis T. Peterson, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Together, they built a beautiful life filled with love, family, and adventure. Mary and Orvis shared 50 years of marriage until his passing. Their bond was strengthened by their shared travels, especially to shipmates’ reunions with fellow USS Frankford crew members, where lifelong friendships were made. One of Mary’s proudest moments was attending the 60th Anniversary of D-Day, honoring Orvis’s service during the invasion.

Family was the center of Mary’s world. She was a devoted mother to four children: William Peterson (deceased), Marjorie Hendershot of Bremerton, Joy Page (Jim) of Poulsbo, and Troy Peterson (Beth) of Kingston. Her love and pride extended to her 8 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren:

• Miranda (Tom) Noe – Carson and Macartney

• Melissa (Todd) Coffer – Natalie and Brodie

• Austin (Glenda) Hendershot – Austin Jr. and Nathan

• Ariele (Kyle Karinen) Page Landstrom – James and Logan

• Jordan (Stefanie) Page – Maxton and Madeline

• Jeremy (Adria) Sault-Peterson – Jasper

• Caleb Haner-Sundin

• Tressa (Matthew) Wick – Cedar

• Miranda Orr -granddaughter

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Orvis, her son William, her brother Arthur Shirey, and her sisters Doris Mace and Barbara Antrim. She is survived by her sister Karen McCorkle.

She was a founding member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and an active volunteer throughout her life, giving her time to causes such as United Way and Meals on Wheels. Mary’s home, especially the beloved “Peterson Pool,” was always full of laughter, love, and the joyful chaos of family gatherings.

Passionate about gardening, reading, crocheting, and creating lasting memories with her family, Mary lived a life rich with love and service. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held on April 7, 2025 at 11:00 am at Holy Trinity Catholic Church 4215 Pine Rd NE Bremerton, WA 9831