Waterford — Twenty years ago, divorced and with her grown children having moved out, Priscilla "Beany" Peabody found herself alone in her New London house with five bedrooms.
She tried to keep busy but wanted to do more. So she began to serve as a foster parent.
Now, two decades later, Peabody has been a foster parent to countless boys and was one of three local foster families recognized by the Waterford Country School last month for their long service.
"Beany is great as a foster parent," said Sarah Butterfield, a recuiter at the school's Therapeutic Foster Care department.
She commended Peabody for making a difference in the lives of her foster boys and agreeing to taking on a child even when it got hard. Butterfield said it's easy to lose foster parents, so the organization appreciates those such as Peabody who stay on for an extended period of time.