Obituary of Lillian E. Peterson

SHREWSBURY, MA -Lillian Earle Peterson 90, of Shrewsbury, MA,formerly of Garner Avenue, Schenectady,NY, passed away after a short illness on Tuesday, December 29, 2009. Lillian was born on January 14, 1919 in Schenectady, to the late William J. Earle and Johanna Hartje Earle. Lillian was educated in the Schenectady Public Schools, graduating from Nott Terrace High School in 1936 and earning a BS in Nursing from Russell Sage College in 1940. She was a RN in the Operating Room of Albany Medical Center where she taught student nurses Operating Room techniques. She married the late Lawrence G. (Pete) Peterson, of Boston, Massachusetts on October 24, 1941. The couple, married for 53 years, resided on Garner Avenue in Schenectady where they raised their three children. Lillian is survived by her children: Dr. Lawrence E. Peterson and his wife Carla, of Boylston, MA; Donald F. Peterson and his wife Norma, of Fairfield, CT, and Dr. Shirley P. Dutton and her husband, Dr. Alan R. Dutton, of Austin, TX. She is also survived by two grandchildren and three great grandchildren Lillian had a great sense of humor, was loving, positive, and thoughtful. She selflessly served many in the community and at her church, St Stephen's Episcopal Church in Schenectady where she was a member for over 50 years. Lillian was a Girl Scout Leader, Board Member of the Mohawk Pathways Girl Scout Council, Secretary of the New York State Legislative Forum, Life member of the American Association of University Women, Class Agent for the Class of 1940 for Russell Sage College, and a long time member of Schenectady Church Women United. Lillian had many and varied interests. She enjoyed boating, swimming and hiking at the Great Sacandaga Lake, ice skating, skiing, and sledding at Central Park and star gazing and bird watching wherever she was. Lillian lived in Schenectady her entire life until May, 2007 when she moved to the Shrewsbury Nursing & Rehabilitation facility Center in Massachusetts which is close to her son, Larry. Her family invites those who knew Lillian to join them as they celebrate her life at her funeral on Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 11:00 AM in St Stephen's Episcopal Church at 1935 The Plaza in Schenectady. The Reverend James McDonald will officiate at the service. Burial will follow the funeral in the Park View Cemetery, Fehr Ave. in Schenectady. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Lillian's name may be made to either, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Building Fund, 1935 The Plaza, Schenectady, NY 12309 or the Girl Scouts of Northeastern NY, 8 Mountain View Ave, Albany, NY 12205, www.gsneny.org. .