Last Updated on January 30, 2026 by Editor
ABOVE: Maria Peycke and her mom, Rosemarie Chiffy. Maria said her daughter Mia was right by her side as Maria cared for her mother. “Mia has always had an understanding of my mother’s situation that was far beyond her years. As we discussed what would happen for her after graduation, she said that she wanted to continue to help my mother as much as possible. She said that she knew that she would spend the majority of her life without her grandmother, and she wanted to be there for her while she had the chance.
Maria Peycke has a tough act to follow. She’s the daughter of Rosemarie Chiffy, who gave so much time, talent and treasure to our parish over her 98 years. But Maria is up to the task, living up to the tradition of her mom and creating a legacy of her own in her family and at Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament.
You grew up in the large Suppa family that lived in side-by-side houses on Lansing Street, which you termed “the compound.” Your mother was a Suppa. What was your childhood like with many cousins and your grandparents living so close?
Having so many cousins to play with and all in such close proximity was wonderful. Our grandmother would sit by the kitchen window in her rocking chair watching us running up and down the driveway playing cowboys and Indians. The whole yard and every apartment there were part of our playground. We didn’t need a swing set or fancy toys; we used our imaginations and had fun for hours.
We were there pretty much on a daily basis, walking home from Mount Carmel School to wait for our mother to pick us up and take us home. I can recall doing homework at the kitchen table after school while my grandmother started dinner. That kitchen was where I first learned how to make sauce, meatballs and chicken soup. What I have learned is that I wasn’t being taught how to cook; we were creating magic and many holy moments together.
I would love to spend one more day there by her side in that kitchen! One thing I can say without a doubt is that I consider myself very blessed by my extended family.
Your maternal grandparents were Joseph “Chick” and Magdelene Suppa, who lived on the first floor of one of those houses. What are your memories of them?
My grandfather loved golf and baseball, and he would sit in his chair next to the upright piano and watch sports on television all afternoon. The sounds of baseball in summer would carry into the kitchen, and you knew he was enjoying himself watching the game he loved to play in his youth. He was a faithful and charming family man who had so much patience and a warm, loving heart. My mother always described him as a “Damon Runyon” character. Mr. Runyon wrote short stories, and the musical “Guys and Dolls” was based on his work.
My grandmother was a voracious reader. She suffered from poor health in her older years and spent most of her time at home in her kitchen, so the books she read helped to transport her to a world she could only dream about. She would send me to the Lansing Street branch of the Utica Public Library on Saturdays to pick up her reading for the week. I can still recall the first time I walked into the library. I was mesmerized by the shelves of books and was thrilled when I was given my first library card. I was so excited that I ran all the way back to her house clutching that precious card in my hand. I think her smile was as big as mine that day. I can’t thank her enough for instilling in me a great love of reading. It has been a mainstay in my life ever since and has helped me through many difficult times.
Are there any lessons from that time that you have imparted upon your kids?
I made a point of reading to my children every night. I knew that time spent with them would not ever be wasted. Both of them enjoy reading, and my daughter also enjoys writing. I tried to continue many of the holiday traditions that my grandparents and mother enjoyed.
Both of my children were taught that considering other people, being empathetic and giving freely of your blessings is important. I wanted to raise them a little slower than this fast-paced, high-tech world we live in. I wanted to share with them a little piece of what it was like growing up during my time as a child, and I think both of them appreciate the simple pleasures of life, and their home and family.
Your mother was active in a whole host of ministries. She died at age 98 in spring 2025. When you were younger, did you fully realize how devoted she was to her faith?
I was always very acutely aware of my mother’s deep and abiding faith. She spoke of it often and tried to instill such devotion in my brother and myself. Whenever we had a chore to do that we didn’t particularly care for, she would tell us to “offer it up” for the poor souls in purgatory, or for a particular person we wished to pray for.
I know that most people think of a legacy as money or property left to their loved ones upon their passing. My mother didn’t have much because she shared so much with others. Money wasn’t important to her. She said the only thing we can take with us to God at the end of our lives is our loving heart and good works. Her legacy was her faith and service, and yes, I do understand it more now than ever and appreciate the importance of her depth of faith and the church she devoted her life to. It is her gift, not only to her family, but to all of us at Mount Carmel, and I am determined to continue her work and carry on her legacy of service to the best of my ability.
In her later years, you were devoted to her and were her primary caretaker. What lessons did you learn from that time?
I was fortunate to have been able to retire six years ago, and to have shared every day of that time with her. I know that’s not everyone’s idea of a happy retirement, but I wouldn’t change it if I could. I would say she began to decline about four months before my retirement, requiring weekly doctor visits that I couldn’t always attend at that time. As far as her health requirements, I hit the ground running the week after I stopped working. It wasn’t easy for any of us, but we made it as fun as possible, taking her to lunch after her appointment, and taking her to her favorite stores.
When her mobility began to decline, her transport chair would wing through the aisles at Boscov’s, and we had a lovely time, even then. Every day was considered an opportunity to share joy, no matter the health issue of the moment. She had an indomitable spirit and would never complain or feel badly about her situation. She offered everything up to God, and that lesson has stuck with me more than any other.
The realization that she wouldn’t be returning home this past winter after being in rehabilitation was very hard for all of us. She wanted to try to go home so badly, but her body wasn’t up for the task. I found that in some ways we had switched roles and I was now the mother, reminding her that this was where she needed to be, reminding her of who she was and how strong she could be.
She was able to find value in every day and in every moment. She believed in the grace found in redemptive suffering, and I am grateful that I was a part of that journey with her because it has helped me to see what truly matters and what we are called to do. It was the most difficult experience I have had to endure in my life thus far, but despite that, I feel truly blessed.
Your daughter Mia also helped. What did she learned about life over those years and about your mom, her grandmother?
Mia has always had an understanding of my mother’s situation that was far beyond her years. During COVID, I not only helped her with online schooling, but was still taking constant care of my mother. Because of her flexible class schedule, she was able to accompany me to doctor appointments, and she also helped clean mom’s house while I did the cooking. I never told her she had to come, she simply expected that was part of how it would be and never once complained. She wanted to be there, and that wasn’t something I expected from a teenager.
As we discussed what would happen for her after graduation, she said that she wanted to continue to help my mother as much as possible. She said that she knew that she would spend the majority of her life without her grandmother, and she wanted to be there for her while she had the chance. She took a year off to be there for mom and then got a part-time job that still allowed her to attend appointments and to help at the house, and later on, the rehabilitation center.
I feel that this time she spent devoted to her grandmother will serve her well throughout her life. Witnessing first-hand my mother’s trials and constant devotion to God has definitely given her great confidence and strength of character.
In our parish, you help in the office, run Mount Carmel Society booth at the festival, are co-president of St. Anne’s Society with Mia, and organize the schedules for the Lord’s Linens and help with that when needed. Why do you give your time to such endeavors?
I find giving my time to the church quite fulfilling. At this point in my life, I want to do meaningful things. It’s somewhat natural that the activities we valued and found to be so important as young people no longer hold our attention. Is it awareness or evolution? Possibly to an extent, but I think it’s more of a calling.
I think the idea of it being a calling is most aligned with how I view this stage in my life and the activities I chose to invest in. My mother’s grace in the face of the end of her life has given me a new awareness of the impermanence of things and the importance of doing what truly matters. This church meant everything to her, to her parents and grandparents. They sacrificed so much to build this place we call home, and again, we get back to the idea of legacy. Their legacy was their faith and belief in the importance of this church and the community they created that sustained them, and continues to sustain us, even now, almost 130 years later.
I find my heart gravitating toward picking up where they left off, and even though the things I do here seem mundane, I believe they hold great importance. It is in the little things we do that add up and join together with the little things others do, that act as pillars to hold up the church in the face of much societal upheaval and the prevailing indifference toward all things spiritual. We need Mount Carmel more than ever, and if we want to keep worshiping here together, we all need to step up in little ways to become part of the structure that will keep her strong long into the future.
How has your faith changed?
My faith has certainly strengthened over the years. I feel I have witnessed much, especially in this past year, which has helped me to see things more clearly. My belief in Heaven as a child was hopeful, but doubtful. I couldn’t imagine a place such as was described to me, but I can say that over the years, after losing very important people, I have come to a new, stronger belief in what lies beyond this temporal world. Thankfully, my core beliefs that were fostered here at Mount Carmel were built upon by those beautiful people, my grandmother, my grandfather, my aunts and uncles, and most of all, my mother. I feel them with me still, guiding me and holding me up during difficult times. What greater peace is there than that?
What do you hope your children have learned from you?
I hope that my children have learned to be strong, not to doubt their abilities. I want them to always see their value, and respect themselves because they are beautiful just as they are. They aren’t perfect, because none of us are, but they are perfectly themselves. Most of all I want them to know how blessed I feel to have the privilege to be their mother and to journey through this life with them.
Maria Peycke
- Age: 61.
- Former occupation: Secretary in the Utica City School District for 34 years.
- Things you like to do in your spare time: Read, write, cook and create art.
- Favorite kind of music and/or musician: I love the music of Loreena McKennitt.
- Favorite foods: Italian and Lebanese food.
- Favorite TV show: “Frasier.”
- Favorite movie: “Last of the Mohicans.”
- Favorite book: “Jane Eyre.”
- Favorite quote: “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” — Mother Theresa