Father James Peak Establishes Endowment to Honor His Parents

This photo was taken after Holy Mass at the Cataldo Mission on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, which is where the Coeur d'Alene Tribe makes their annual pilgrimage to sacred grounds. The Peaks' support of the tribe led to them being honored at their funeral by Coeur d'Alene Tribe members.

Joe and Rose Mary Peak moved to the Silver Valley in 1978 after purchasing the Enaville Resort, better known as the Snake Pit, the oldest restaurant in Idaho. Although this business occupied most of their time, their true passion was serving people apart from the restaurant.

Joe was known throughout the community as an organizer and friend. He founded the Youth Basketball League, wrote a weekly outdoors column for the local paper, helped bring about Rails-To-Trails and gave fishing advice to many traveling up the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and helped at the pancake breakfasts and annual mostaccioli dinners.

Rose Mary played the organ at Saint Rita's for more than three decades and served in the Catholic Daughters of the Americas council. She played piano for many seasons at the Sixth Street Melodrama in Wallace. Her music consoled those who mourned, brought joy to the downcast and helped people raise their prayer to God in song.

Joe and Rose Mary passed away in 2012—she in January, he in November—after hard-fought battles with cancer.

"My parents truly loved their neighbors and performed countless spiritual and corporal works of mercy. They fed the hungry, consoled the dying and cared for the elderly and less advantaged in their community with joyful hearts while asking nothing in return," says their son, Father James Peak.

"Even in the most difficult times, they generously supported the Catholic Church with their time, talent and treasure without counting the cost. Their love of God and neighbor through selfless service played a vital role in my discernment of the priestly vocation. This endowment fund will continue their legacy of service to the People of God in the Silver Valley."

You, too, can help ensure the Church is provided for with a gift in your estate plan. To learn more, please contact Margaret Hampton at (208) 342-1311, ext. 5139 or mhampton@rcdb.org.