Dorothy E. Peterson

Dorothy Eleanor Peterson, 89, of Jacksonville passed away December 24, 2010. Dorothy was a loving and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She will be missed by all who knew her, but we are grateful that her pain and suffering are over.

Dorothy was born May 15, 1921 in Chicago, Illinois to Martha and Louis Litke. As a teenager during the Depression, she became the family’s breadwinner. She was a hard-working and admirable employee all her working life, as a bookkeeping supervisor for a number of banks and firms in Chicagoland.

Dorothy loved to sing to her young children and grandson, and share her love of good music. She often joined her beloved husband of 61 years, Bert, in the musical fun in many a family get-together or party. She and Bert retired and moved to Jacksonville in 1985.

Dorothy loved to read and garden all her life, and exercised her green thumb raising beautiful roses, vegetables, and flowers. She and Bert enjoyed fun-filled vacations fishing with their dear lifelong friends Tillie and Ernest Grunewald, in Wisconsin and Minnesota. She was also an enthusiastic Cubs fan.

Bert preceded her in death in 2007. They can be proud of their full lives and the wonderful contributions they made to family and friends. She was also preceded by her loving parents, mother Martha and stepfather Wilhelm Pepke, her young sister Shirley, and many dear relatives and friends.

Dorothy is survived by her sons Charles Peterson (Cathy) and Paul Peterson of Jacksonville, grandson Aleksandr “Sasha” Peterson (Cathy) of Kansas City, Missouri; stepbrothers Ron, Charles, Robert, Jack, and Bert Litke; godson James Doruff of Jacksonville, goddaughter Valerie Vanarsdall of Highland Heights, Kentucky; and many friends and neighbors.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, December 31, 2010 at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Dorothy Peterson’s name may be made to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, the Sulzbacher Center, the ASPCA, child literacy organizations, or the charity of your choice. Photos and memorial pages can be found at www.hgmandarin.com. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223. (904) 288-0025