While Peabody mourns the death of Joyce A. Spiliotis, speculation has quietly begun over who might run to fill the seat of the popular state representative.

Spiliotis, 65, a five-term Peabody Democrat, died Nov. 29  after a battle with cancer she chose to keep private. Many of her legislative colleagues, including House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, and city officials attended her funeral last Monday in St. Thomas the Apostle Church.