Signe M. Peterson

Signe Maria Peterson passed away peacefully, on February 8, 2013, at Indian River Medical Center, Vero Beach.

She was born March 24, 1917 in the village of �stra Kvarn, Bark�kra Parish, Kristianstad County, Sweden, the daughter of Fritz and Hedvig Andersson Lindberg. They lived in Sk�lderviken, until her family immigrated to the United States in 1923, settling in North Arlington, New Jersey.

She married Harold M. Peterson, in 1938, at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Arlington, NJ. They lived in New Jersey most of their married life, from North Arlington to Westfield to Little Silver. Her husband was transferred from New York to Baltimore twice, at which times they lived in Rogers Forge and Towson, MD. They were transferred again in the late 1960�s to Sweden, where they lived for seven years, and traveled extensively throughout Europe and Scandinavia. During this time, they had the good fortune of visiting Bark�kra Church, where she was baptized as an infant. Their last transfer was in the mid 1970�s to Niagara Falls, NY, where they lived in Lewiston, until 1977, at which time Mr. Peterson retired, and they moved to Vero Beach, Florida.

Mrs. Peterson was a homemaker. During the years she lived in New Jersey, she was a member of Garden Club and the PTA. She was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church. She was a volunteer and member of McKee Botanical Garden, and a Happy Stitchers member, at Vista Gardens. She loved to shop, was an avid crafter, enjoyed reading, doing daily crossword puzzles, and caring for her many African violets. She was fun loving, and looked forward to attending parties with family and friends. She was caring and generous. She enjoyed entertaining. Christmas was her favorite holiday, and over the years she enjoyed carrying on the Swedish traditions, making wonderful Swedish meatballs, cookies, cakes and candies. In the last two years of her life, she was extremely instrumental in helping her daughter-in-law with Genealogy, in tracing her Lindberg and Andersson families back in Sweden. Her memory was amazingly sharp, for recalling names, places, dates and events. She held the keys to unlocking many family tree mysteries, that otherwise would never have been known. She loved her family, and often spoke of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family meant everything to her.

Survivors include son, David A. Peterson and wife Ramona; grandson, Christopher Peterson and wife Mary; granddaughter, Heather Russo and husband, Jay; great-grandchildren, Christien and Emily Peterson, and Evan Russo, all of Vero Beach; a sister, Maj �Mae� Newton and husband M. D. �Dan� of Bradford, VT; three nieces, seven nephews, and numerous friends and neighbors.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 44 years, in 1983; her favorite aunt, Emma Andersson Gerry Levin, �Aunty Nana�, whom with her husband, Bernard Levin, sponsored and made it possible for her, her parents and four sisters to also leave Sweden and come to join her in America; her sisters, Dagmar �Dag� Schreitz and husband Robert �Bob�, Elsi �Elsy� Kathan and husband Albert, Irma Benson and husband John Bertil �Bert�.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1850 Sixth Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, April 29 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, with Pastor A. C. �Jack� Diehl III, officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.