Mary Ellen Peper, 48, of Walnut Hill passed away Thursday, January 27, 2022. Mary was of the Christian faith. Mary’s heart was full of dedication to her family and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for them. She was a natural nurturer and had a calming way of bringing a smile to everyone. She was an accomplished photographer, capturing beautiful shots doing family portraits, bringing out angelic smiles on babies, photographing landscapes while on her travels, and capturing moments in time on the faces of her cherished family members. Mary was an enthusiastic supplier of Paparazzi Jewelry to her grateful clientele. She had no fear of technology sharing her expertise of tik tok and snapchat with her family and friends. During Centralia’s Balloon Fest you could find Mary giving her all while crewing for the balloonist as she loved to give back to the community. She and her husband, Kent liked to travel together and made memorable trips to see the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, the lighthouses and the seahawks in St. Ignace, Michigan, and soaking in the sun at Mackinac Island. Mary was a joy and a true treasure to everyone that knew her, and she will be deeply missed.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at the Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia with Pastor Anthony Sweeney and John Willis officiating. Interment will follow at Paradise Cemetery in Salem. Friends are welcome to a visitation time from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 1, 2022, and Wednesday, February 2, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home in Centralia. Memorials may be made in Mary’s honor to Irvin Macz Funeral Home to assist the family with funeral expenses. Online condolences and memories of Mary may be shared with the family by visiting www.maczfuneralhomes.com and/or on the funeral home’s Facebook page.
She married the love of her life Kent Peper on October 11, 1997, at the Methodist Church in Hoyleton and he survives in Walnut Hill. Along with her devoted husband of 24 years, Kent Peper, Mary is survived by her beloved family, her mother Margaret Niederhofer of Hoffman; her children Emma Peper (Jacob Nollman) of Walnut Hill, and Sawyer Peper of Walnut Hill; sister Deborah Howe and husband Dale of Irvington; and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family.
She was born on April 8, 1973, the daughter of Billy Dean and Margaret (Borland) Niederhofer in South Bend Indiana. Mary was preceded in death by her father Billy Niederhofer; her father-in-law and mother-in-law John E. Peper Jr. and Wanda Lee Fern Peper.
