Annemarie Betty Peurasaari

Anne passed away on Friday, July 11, 2025 at the age of 87 in her home in Gambrills, MD. Anne is predeceased by her parents and 5 siblings, Inge Jung, Ursula Lau, the twins Friederich and Walter Bolesta and Valte Bolsta as well as her ex-husband Leo Raymond Peurasaari. Anne is survived by 2 nieces Doro Offerman and Christiana Prando and a nephew Sven Bolesta as well as a sister-in-law Doris Bolesta.

Anne was born in Berlin, Germany on February 3, 1938. At age 6, the family was moved to a farm in Torgau, Germany when Berlin was attacked and bombed by Hitler. She spent her first year of school in a bomb shelter where they attempted to have school. In 1945, her Mother delivered twin boys. At age 6 months, the twins, 2 other siblings age 4 and 5 years old, Anne, her Mother and Grandmother were hidden in freight trains going to West Germany (Duisburg and Wattenscheid). Anne graduated high school, went to nursing school and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1958. She worked in Hamburg, Germany at a famous university in a variety of positions, also participated in shock treatment, insulin and water therapy. She spent time in London, England where she worked as an interpreter in a hotel and then moved to France and lived with a famous family. She studied English and French in the countries she lived in.

She lived in Paris 1964 and married Leo Raymond Peurasaari who was born to Finnish parents. He was a U.S. citizen, worked as a secret service courier and had a special clearance. In 1964 they moved to Detroit, Michigan. Anne started to work at a Jewish Hospital since they could read and translate her nursing degrees. She went to college to get a B.A., retook the Boards and studied for a Master’s degree in Social Work and an M.A. in Administration at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Anne traveled extensively to get CEU credits (Continuing Education credits) to Germany, Finland, Sweden, Spain, Italy, France, England, China and Japan. Anne loved dancing, yoga, walking and being in nature. She worked in private practice from 1970 to the present. She worked in various hospitals. In 1989 she moved to Columbia, Maryland and worked in a hospital for the ER and in-patient psych unit. In 2002, she stopped working at the hospital and worked for the next 20 years in private practice as a Social Worker. She specialized in cognitive behavior therapy and was trained in herbal therapy and homeopathy. She made friends easily. In 2013 she became a Bahai and in 2015 was initiated into Kriya Yoga. She loved the ocean and traveling and spent time in timeshares in Bethany Beach, Delaware and Las Brisas, New Mexico. Her greatest wish and prayer was for world unity and peace.

A graveside service for Anne will be held Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Meadowridge Memorial Park, 7250 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD. A livestream link will be available for those to join virtually.