Elizabeth Ann Rice Peace
Died September 19, 2017
LELAND – Elizabeth Ann Rice Peace, 91,
of Leland, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017 at Munson Medical Center.
The loving and lovely wife of William
Dunnett Peace. Wonderful mother of Susan
Peace Oliver and William Peace Jr. Proud
grandmother of Andrew Oliver, Megan Peace Vrabel, Elizabeth Oliver (deceased),
Laura Oliver McElhinney, Jennifer Peace Landsberg, and Jonathan Peace. Great-grandmother of Carson Vrabel, Kate
Vrabel, Charlie Oliver, Quincey Vrabel, Hazel Elizabeth McElhinney, Catherine
Oliver, Henry McElhinney, Dylan Landsberg, Milo Landsberg, Elizabeth “Libby”
Ross Oliver and Julia Landsberg.
Known to all as Libby, she was born
on Oct. 31, 1925, and raised in Cheshire, CT.
Upon graduation from Hamden High School in CT, Libby attended the
University of Iowa and graduated from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY, where
she met her future husband, Bill Peace.
Prior to their marriage in August 1948, she taught third grade in Cold
Spring Harbor, NY.
After their wedding at the
Congregational Church in Cheshire, Libby and Bill moved to Akron, OH. Libby joined the Junior League, volunteered
in numerous charities, learned to drive (not without peril to a few bushes) and
happily produced their two children.
In 1953 Libby and Bill moved to Niles,
Michigan. Although she was sad to leave
so many dear friends in Akron, this began a life-long love of Western
Michigan. In Niles, her life blossomed
with service to her community. At the
First Presbyterian Church, Libby joined the Service League, was elected as an
Elder and taught senior high school Sunday school for fifteen years with her husband,
Bill. Her English-major background made
her a valued member of the Ladies Historical Society. She volunteered with Meals-on-Wheels and at
local migrant camps, teaching her children the value of community service with
love.
Libby was an excellent bridge player,
saving her winnings in a small black purse to use for presents for her
family. She played golf, tennis and
platform tennis and was a keen swimmer.
Summer family vacations were spent among her many relatives on Long
Island and in Northern Michigan on Lake Belaire.
In the early 1970’s, while visiting
Akron friends, Laura Lee and Fred Heslop in Leland, MI, Libby and Bill
impulsively purchased a vacation house on Sugar Bush Lane – and never looked
back. This and the house they subsequently
purchased next door made Leland the Peace family gathering spot.
They moved to Leland permanently in
the fall of 1982 and soon became involved in many aspects of the community,
joining the Leland Community United Methodist Church. Her volunteer efforts were various: teaching “Great Books” at the Leland Public
School; singing for a time in the Methodist Church choir; co-founding, with
several others, “The Little Garden Club”; sharing the Chairmanship of the
Leland Fourth of July Parade with Bill; and taking therapy dogs to the Assisted
Living Facility in Northport with her grandchildren.
Libby enthusiastically embraced
cross-county skiing, played golf and swam every summer day in either Lake
Leelanau or Lake Michigan. She and Bill
participated in Lamp Lighters and played couples bridge. She became a member of The Colonial Dames of
the United States in the 1980’s.
Libby and Bill spent some winter
months on Amelia Island, FL, for twenty-eight years. There they joined the Presbyterian Church and
made many lasting friendships. Libby
continued her pet therapy work in the assisted living facility there and
adopted her precious dog, Misty, from the local rescue facility.
Libby was a dear friend to many in
the community and treasured their friendship in return. In later years, she became a member of Donna
Hearne’s Bible Study. She has sadly
resided in The Highlands in Northport since 2012, making new friends and
becoming popular with the caring staff.
Libby was preceded in death by her
parents, her siblings, Mary R. Beatty, Edward A. Rice and her granddaughter,
Elizabeth P. Oliver in 1997.
Graveside services will be held at 3:30
p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30 at Beechwood Cemetery. Rev. Daniel Hofmann will officiate.
Please share memories and condolences below:
Bill and family, we are so sorry to read of the death of Libby. We have many fond memories of your teaching us Sunday School and then being friends for many years. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May God grant you peace. Love in Christ John and Mary Carol Grinnell
ReplyDeleteDear Family,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss. I was one of the Caregivers at the Highlands for Libby. I was privileged to care for Libby for only a few months for I had just started there. The few months I did she greatly touched my heart. She was always talking, sometimes reaching out her hand for mine, taking it, putting it to her cheek and smiling. I loved when I fed her and after every bite she would say Thank You! It is so quite in the Dinning Room without her. I miss her dearly. I just wanted you to know I have your family in my prayers and how she had touched my life.
Barbara Hoeneise