Mary Elliott Argue of Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire, died peacefully on April 14, 2023 at the age of 94 at Hospice House in Concord, New Hampshire. 

Born Mary Elliott Peck on May 4, 1928 in South Bend, Indiana, she grew up in a warm household with her parents and four siblings.  She attended college at St. Mary’s Academy in South Bend, Indiana.  While working as a secretary at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, she met her future husband, University of Notre Dame graduate Jack Argue, who was an orderly there.  Following her older sister’s advice, she accepted Jack’s proposal for marriage, had a short engagement, and married on September 1, 1951.  After medical school in Washington, D.C. and an internship in Rochester, New York, the couple (and their first two children) settled in Jack’s hometown of Pittsfield, New Hampshire in 1955.  Mary Elliott remained in Pittsfield for 44 years while she and Jack raised their family and became part of the town community.  She vacationed on Crystal Lake in nearby Gilmanton Iron Works with her family since the late 1950s, eventually moving there permanently in 1999.  The lake was one of her favorite spots.

Those who knew Mary Elliott readily recognized her many endearing traits.  She was a kind, generous, gracious woman and a devout Catholic who had a quiet, humble way of deeply touching those around her.  She had a unique ability to make anyone in her presence feel welcome and comfortable.  She was loved and respected by her family and friends as an extraordinarily wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Mary Elliott was a Third-Order Carmelite of the Carmelite Monastery in Concord, New Hampshire as well as Mistress of the lay novices.  She served on the school board of Bishop Brady High School in Concord, New Hampshire, where all twelve of her children attended.  She was an active congregant of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, and subsequently at St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Alton, New Hampshire where she enjoyed singing in the choir.  For decades, she enjoyed winter trips to the Florida Keys with her husband, joining friends and relatives for warm relaxation.  After buying a home on Cudjoe Key in 2005, she and her daughter Rosemary extended the stays and developed many close friendships.

Mary Elliott was married to Dr. John S. Argue on September 1, 1951, who pre-deceased her on February 4, 2007.  She was mother to Catherine (Charles) Fountain, John (Susan) Argue (pre-deceased), Thomas (Nancy) Argue, James (Katherine) Argue, Daniel (Sheila) Argue, David (Shari) Argue, Peter (Noriko) Argue, Michael Argue, Rosemary Argue, Maureen (Joseph) Ebner, Christopher (Laurie) Argue, and Timothy (Denise) Argue.  She was blessed with 31 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.  She was pre-deceased by her parents, Perry T. and Ontario Peck and four siblings, Elizabeth Robertson, William Peck, John Peck and Anne Mitchell.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday April 19, 2023 at 1pm at St. Katharine Drexel Church, 40 Hidden Springs in Alton, NH, with Fr Robert F. Cole, pastor as celebrant, with calling hours prior to the mass from 10am-1pm at church.  A time of reception will follow in the church hall and interment will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery at 4pm in Pittsfield NH.

Donations in memory of Mary Elliott are welcome at St. Katharine Drexel Parish (https://www.stkdrexel.org/) or Carmelite Communities Associated (https://ccacarmels.org/).

04/17/2023

JFC