In Loving
Memory

Carmelita Mundo Peters, 86, died June 9, 2023, in hospice care at Lakewood West End, Henrico, Virginia, after experiencing an aortic dissection in the early hours of June 5. She remained fully lucid until the very end.

Born Jan. 2, 1937, in Rochester, Pennsylvania, to Joseph Mundo and Rose Fucci Mundo, Carmie was the oldest of four children. She attended St. Cecilia Catholic school through eighth grade and was graduated from Rochester High School in 1954. For college, she commuted by train to the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in English. She married William Howard Peters, a high school classmate, in 1963; he predeceased her in 2021. After graduation she remained in western Pennsylvania, working for a time at Bell Telephone, but found her true calling in education, working as an English teacher at Riverside High School and then Freedom High School.

In the early years of their marriage, Carmie and Bill lived in Conway and Titusville, both in Pennsylvania. In 1970, For Bill’s job, they moved to Bluefield, West Virginia, where they remained for 51 years. After time at home with the children, Carmie returned to teaching, first as a substitute from 1971 to 1977 and full-time in 1977 at Montcalm High School as a reading specialist. She moved to Bluefield High School in 1982, teaching in the special education department. She retired from teaching in 2008 but felt called to continue. She returned to substitute teaching 18 months later, retiring fully in 2018 at the age of 81. Carmie pursued additional education for herself, earning her master’s degree and completing all the coursework required for a Ed.D. in education administration from Virginia Tech, all while working full-time at BHS. She also taught graduate courses for the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies and Marshall University from 1987 to 2010.

She was an active member of Alpha Delta Kappa, a national teacher’s sorority. In retirement, Carmie served on the Friends of the Library board at Craft Memorial Library in Bluefield and spent much time with her grandchildren. Following Bill’s death on August 31, 2021, she moved in November 2021 to Henrico.

She will be remembered for her meatballs and sauce, her homemade bread and pizza, simultaneous participation in multiple book clubs, and her skill at word games. (Latin instruction paid off!) She was an early adopter of the Amazon Kindle and had an active Facebook presence. She quickly became an involved member of the Lakewood community, serving as a building representative and a pen pal, and attending many functions.

She is survived by her three children, their spouses, and her grandchildren: Paula Peters Chambers and Henry L. Chambers Jr. of Richmond, Virginia; Gilbert R. Peters III (G.R.) and Renée Peters of LaGrange, Georgia; and Drs. Joseph L. Peters and Ellie Alevritis Peters of Peoria, Arizona; Virginia Chambers of Lansing, Michigan; Will Chambers and Joseph Chambers of Richmond; and Grace Peters of Peoria. Additional survivors include her siblings and their spouses – Rosalie and Michael Breslin of Narberth, Pennsylvania; Josephine and Elmer Reed of Monaca, Pennsylvania; and Joseph and Pam Mundo of Rockwall, Texas – and numerous relatives.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 17, at 11 a.m., in the Simms Center at Lakewood, followed by a reception at the same location.

Donations in Carmie’s name may be directed to the Friends of Craft Memorial Library, 600 Commerce Street, Bluefield, West Virginia, 24701, or the National Shrine of St. Jude, shrineofstjude.org.