Faith Ellen Peckham, 83, Tiverton

Long-time swimming instructor loved the water

Posted 9/20/21

Faith Ellen Peckham, 83, of Tiverton, Rhode Island, died peacefully in her sleep on September 16, 2021.

She was born in Fall River, Massachusetts to the late John and Mabel (Little) Mercer and …

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Faith Ellen Peckham, 83, Tiverton

Long-time swimming instructor loved the water

Posted

Faith Ellen Peckham, 83, of Tiverton, Rhode Island, died peacefully in her sleep on September 16, 2021.

She was born in Fall River, Massachusetts to the late John and Mabel (Little) Mercer and was sister to the late Ruth, Lois, Althea, John, Robert, twin Hope, and Carlton. From a young age Faith and her siblings were coached by their parents to swim competitively in long-distance events across the country.

One lauded accomplishment for the “Swimming Mercers” was Faith’s surprise win of the woman’s division of the five-mile L ST. Swim at age 13.

A graduate of BMC Durfee High School in 1956, Faith went on to become a water safety instructor for American Red Cross teaching countless children and adults how to swim at the Fall River YMCA, Tiverton Yacht Club, and Camp Jennings. Above all, she loved her work as an adaptive safety swim instructor for the Easter Seals Society where she taught swimming at the Crystal Springs School for twenty-eight years. Aside from swimming, Faith enjoyed walking the beaches of Rhode Island, following her grandchildren’s sports teams, and spending time with her life-long dear friend Barbara Wong.

Faith was predeceased by her late husband, Prescott Peckham. She is survived by her four children and their spouses: Thomas and wife Ruth, Cheryl and husband John, Prescott Jr. and wife Jennifer, and Jonathan and wife Eleni. She also leaves behind nine cherished grandchildren: Abigail, Ian, William, John, Mitchell, Ryan, Grace, Prescott III, and Zoe.

As Faith would say, be kind to one and other. Her memory will be honored in a celebration of life on October 8, 2021, at eleven o’clock a.m. at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Tiverton. Donations in her memory may be made to St. Jude's Hospital or the Tiverton Little League.

 

 

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