Mary Ann Peter, 79, of rural Quincy, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Bickford of Quincy in Quincy, IL. She was born on May 12, 1946 in Olney, Illinois to Marion Eaton (Bill) Hebron and Helen (Fehrenbacher) Hebron of Carlinville, Illinois. She married Albert Paul Peter of Fowler, Illinois on July 27, 1968 at St. Edward’s Church in Mendon, IL. He preceded her in death on May 21, 2015.

Mary Ann grew up in Carlinville, IL. During her formative years, she was active in Girl Scouts working many summers as a camp counselor and lifeguard, and taught swimming lessons for the Red Cross. She also began singing at church when she was 5 years old, something she loved and continued doing throughout her entire life. Singing along with hymns became a source of comfort during her final weeks. In high school, she participated in student government, drama, and played the French horn. After graduating in 1964, she attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign earning a B.A. in Theatre in 1968. While at the University of Illinois she was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority, spending two years as the house President, and she performed in many plays. During her senior year, she helped consult on the design of Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana. Mary Ann met Albert “Pete” Peter at a college party, and they married shortly after her graduation. While Pete was still in graduate school, she took classes and got her teaching certificate.

Mary Ann’s first job after starting her family was as a stockbroker at IDS. After several years, however, she changed careers to have more flexibility to be with her children. When she first began her career at Unity High School, she worked as an English, Speech, and Drama teacher. She is fondly remembered for her unique teaching strategies and desire to help her students. She often affectionately spoke of her students, their antics, and their creative writing projects or entertaining speeches. She was a favorite for class sponsor and truly enjoyed her work with the Quiz Bowl team. Many students still talk about “the sentence” – a very, very long sentence she gave them to copy when they got in trouble. While at Unity, she continued her own education, getting a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Missouri and later became the high school librarian and district technologist. Being gifted at writing grants, she prided herself on the book collection she curated over the years and the various technologies the school obtained throughout her tenure.

Mary Ann loved children in general and always appreciated their curiosity and perspective. She was a gifted storyteller and everyone loved hearing about life through her eyes. She was a natural teacher and jumped into life with a childlike enthusiasm– volunteering to help with everything from leading 4-H clubs or Brownie Scouts, to writing skits, sewing amazing costumes, or helping plan swim team banquets. She devoted her summers to gardening, canning, and helping with her kids’ 4-H projects. She cherished her grandchildren and loved reading to them, coloring with them, and teaching them about almost anything. Throughout her life, she was an avid reader and loved card games and crossword puzzles. She sang in the Quincy Symphony Chorus, performed at the Quincy Community Little Theater, participated in Home Extension and multiple bridge clubs, and was a member of PEO. In her later years, she enjoyed weeding, painting, and nurturing orphaned kittens.

Mary Ann often said “I’m God’s person” and enjoyed attending any church that believed in God. She was a member of St. Edwards Catholic Church, Mendon, IL and St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Quincy, IL where she regularly sang in the choir. When her children were young, she was a catechism teacher and organized the music program for bible school. Later in life, she also attended The Crossing and many different bible studies and services at Bickford, even occasionally joining in with the Men’s Group too!

Mary Ann leaves behind two daughters, Allison Sass (Christian) of Elgin, IL and Stephanie Peter Love (Patrick) of Mount Pleasant, SC; a son, Christopher Peter of Fowler, IL; nine grandchildren, Charlotte, Evan, Aaron (A.J.), Paul Daniel, and David Sass; Victoria and Jocelynn Wagy, and Genevieve and Annaliese Peter; two great grandchildren, Alahni and Kobe Wagy; a brother, William Hebron (Vicki) of Carlinville, IL; several in-laws, Judy Duesterhaus, Ross (Lyn) Peter, Richard Rea, and Ray (Kay) Peter; and a plethora of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her grandson, Kelton Peter; her in-laws Robert Duesterhaus, Carolyn Peter, Robert Leach, and Mary Rea; a nephew, Ryan Peter; and a niece, Michelle Duesterhaus Tang.

Services:
A Celebration of Life open house will be held on her birthday, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, from 3:00-6:00pm at Spring Lake County Club in Quincy, IL. A memorial service will begin at 6:00pm and friends and family are invited to share their special memories of Mary Ann.
There will also be a celebration for Bickford staff, residents, and friends on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 2:00pm at Bickford of Quincy in Quincy, IL.

Memorials: St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation-Forever Kelton Memorial Endowment, Blessing Hospice, Chaddock, or Habitat for Humanity