Rita Ann Irene Peterson

Rita Ann Irene (Monick) Peterson was surrounded by family when she passed away at age 75 on July 20, 2018. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 28, 1943, to Peter and Mary (Ponisciak) Monick, moved to Falls Church, Virginia, for grade school, and then to West Palm Beach, Florida, where she graduated high school in 1962 from St. Ann School. Rita went on to earn her Associates degree from Palm Beach Junior College and then attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She left GW to work for NASA from 1963-1968 during the Gemini program and enjoyed being a part of space exploration; she was fortunate to travel back home to Florida to witness several launches.

While living in Washington, Rita met Dennis “Pete” Peterson bowling with the local Catholic Youth Organization. They were married on May 11, 1968. After honeymooning in the Poconos, they started their life together in Erie, Pennsylvania where she worked at Hamot Hospital and was also the bookkeeper for Pete’s construction business. Rita and Pete’s two children, Eric and Kathleen, were born in Erie where they enjoyed a rural lifestyle before moving to Palm Beach Gardens in 1985 to be near Rita’s parents and sister, Martina Schmid.

She continued to be the bookkeeper for Peterson Construction and also worked in the front office of William T. Dwyer High School from 1991 - 1996. Rita volunteered at her children’s schools and her church and loved spending time with her grandchildren and great nieces and nephews. She was a fantastic friend, caring wife, and wonderful mother who loved being around her children’s friends, whom she treated like family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Peter & Mary Monick, and is survived by Pete, her dedicated husband of 50 years; her children Eric (Deon Johansen) of Wellington and Kathleen (Paul) Dean of Alexandria, Virginia; four grandchildren: T.J., Tristan, Austin, and Delaney Dean; her sister Martina (Jon Schmid); nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; and a large and loving extended family.

Visitation is Tuesday, July 31, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Quattlebaum Funeral Home, 754 US Highway 1, North Palm Beach. A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, August 1, at 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola, 9999 N. Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens; followed by burial at South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth. Donations may be made to the HealthWell Foundation.