Mary (Major) Peacock

Hi, my name is Allison, and I’m starting a fundraiser for my friend Mary Peacock. Mary's husband Bill passed away unexpectedly this past Saturday, July 2nd, at the age of 53, without warning or time to prepare. We are all still in shock, but none more than Mary.

Mary and I met 21 years ago in a Billerica schoolyard where our children were starting kindergarten. We became fast friends since our sons were always together and found we actually enjoyed each other's company too! At that time, Mary was a single mom of two boys, and over the next ten years, another failed relationship left her as a single mother of four children. Mary had no faith that she would ever find love again, not to mention someone to love all of her boys too.

She put all her energy into her children and worked endlessly to keep her family afloat, eventually getting a job at Walgreens when her two youngest were 8 and 10. This is where she met Bill Peacock. Bill was such a great guy - so funny, considerate, thoughtful and always smiling. He treated Mary how she deserved to be treated, which was something she wasn't used to. They became friends first and slowly, eventually, started dating.

For 20+ years Bill was a volunteer firefighter in Reading, in addition to being a colonial reenactor. Bill marched in the Reading Minute and Militia parade every 4th of July, beginning when he was only seven years old with his own father! When his own son was old enough, he continued the tradition and joined Bill in the parade. After Bill and Mary had been dating for several years, one of her sons became interested too, eventually joining Bill and his son each year on the 4th of July.

In 2018 they finally decided to get married.

Mary and Bill spent these last four years growing together as a blended family, taking the kids on family vacations, gardening in the yard and even planting a tree together that became known to their five boys as “Bill’s Tree.”

Two years ago, Mary sustained a severe back injury that left her unable to work due to pain and constant physical therapy and doctor appointments. Losing Mary's paycheck has been difficult, but Bill and the boys adjusted and came together to support one another by living with less. Even though money was always tight, they managed to make it work and truly loved being together.

Bill was such a caring person; he would do anything for someone who needed it and, despite any hardship, always kept a positive attitude. His passing is such an unexpected blow to all that have had the pleasure of knowing him.

Now faced with a life without Bill, Mary has no plan on how to afford groceries and gas, not to mention a funeral. She doesn't even get to grieve - she is trying to support the boys through losing their dad, worrying about their finances, and feeling guilty that she has to rely so heavily on her sons. While family members have been doing all they can to help, sadly, it's not enough, especially in this economy.

Thank you for taking the time to read this whole post, I know it is long and still doesn't capture just how devastating this loss is to all of us. Mary did not ask me to write this and would never burden others with her problems. But I am asking, please support my friend during this devastating time in her life. Anything helps, even $5 dollars! If we can all come together, the difference it makes in someone's life can be transformative.