Beatrice E. (Squires) Peckham

Beatrice Etta Peckham (Squires) died peacefully in her sleep on June 8, 2019 at the age of 94. She was born in Coventry on April 14, 1925 to Arthur Edward Squires and Etta Nellie Squires (Gergler). Beatrice married Rowland Clayton Peckham on January 11, 1943. They had a long and loving marriage until his passing in 1992 at the age of 71. They happily resided in Mansfield Center raising their family and enjoying retirement.

            She was a loving mother and mother-in-law to Barbara (Peckham) Larson (d.2019) and her husband Carl Larson (d.2017), and Richard (Dick) Peckham (d. 1970), all of Mansfield. She is survived by her daughter Bette (Peckham) Gauthier of Bellingham, MA and her husband Roger Gauthier. She leaves behind her grandchildren Linnea (Larson) Nikitas and husband Jason Nikitas, Kelsey Larson, and Eric Larson all of Mansfield, CT, grandson Sean Gauthier and his wife Julia of Hopedale, MA, Kyle Gauthier and his fiancé, Bryanna Evans of Franklin, MA, and Aubrey (Gauthier) Egan and her husband Nicholas Egan of Stoughton, MA. She also leaves behind her beloved great grandchildren Natalia, Jack and Alaina Nikitas of Mansfield and Ophelia Gauthier of Hopedale, MA. Bea was one of 6 children and had many beloved nieces and nephews. Beatrice had a special bond with her younger sister Loretta (Squires) Girard who passed away this past fall, and remained close to her brother-in-law Arthur Girard of Griswold, CT until the end.

            As a child Bea was known as Pickles and later nicknamed Mimi by her first grandchild, Linnea. For many, many years Bea was known as the better half of local A&P Manager Rowland Peckham, and they both became woven into the community of Willimantic through Rowland’s work. She was an avid seamstress, loved crafts of all kinds and was a wonderful self-taught cook. She was naturally resourceful after growing up one of six children on a farm and having lived through so many changes in the world. In her later years she was involved in the Mansfield Senior Center and also the Red Hat Ladies for a time. Bea enjoyed music, including Country, Polkas and Big Bang Music; she could often be found listening to a Red Sox’s Game or tuning in for coverage of the UConn Women’s Basketball Games.

               Her generous spirit and sense of humor will be missed by all that knew her. Her long life gave us memories to cherish forever. Beatrice’s family will receive relatives and friends at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) in Willimantic on Wednesday, June 12, 2019 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM with a funeral service beginning at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow at New Mansfield Center Cemetery, on Cemetery Rd. in Mansfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mansfield Volunteer Fire Department. 

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