CO-FOUNDER & BOARD MEMBER

Marylouise White-Petteruti (aka Duck) serving as the Executive Director and Board President of Domus Pacis Family Respite, Inc. has demonstrated her passion for educating communities on the need for respite and how simple acts of compassion can impact healing for members of a family. This passion expanded given her current involvement as the Founder and Board President of Peace Alights Initiatives.

She has degrees in mathematics and computer science from the University of Illinois and focused on marketing and quantitative analysis while earning an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. 

Prior to “retiring,” Marylouise honed her technical skill during short stints at Alberto-Culver and Motorola. A 25-year career at the Leo Burnett culminated in achieving the position of Senior Vice President, with responsibility for Starcom’s global strategic information management.

Steeled by exceptional parents and influenced by a strong Dominican education, Duck knew deep within her soul the expertise and financial stability gained from a formidable corporate career needed to be applied to a significant corporal endeavor – the family respite program inspiration. Hence, she developed and launched her initial nonprofit venture, Domus Pacis Family Respite, Inc. from an idea in 2001. And July 2020 Duck heard God’s voice once again and began seeding other women about forming a nationwide association-type organization, Peace Alights Initiatives, Inc. In 2024, as the idea for lean on us began to percolate in her husband Vince’s head and heart, she is honored to provide the reciprocal support to this endeavor. Duck feels these journeys have truly been blessed ones. 

While in Chicagoland and raising a family, Marylouise was actively involved in the community serving on the boards of several agencies, Parenthesis, St. Catherine/St. Luke Parish Council, Chicago Women in Philanthropy and Trinity High School. In Summit County she has accepted a position on St. Mary+Our Lady of Peace’s Pastoral Council. 

Duck is one of six siblings, proud mom to two fortysomething gifts from God (Sarah and Nic) and Nana to four energetic grandsons plus an equally energetic granddaughter. When her joints allow, she and Vince seek to canoe on lakes and rivers, and hike through forests that renew the soul, rest the mind, and bring smiles to their tired faces.