Born Lorraine Patricia Nielsen on June 12, 1918 in Muskegon, Michigan, she was known and loved as "Momma" by family, friends, and neighbors alike. A graduate of Muskegon High School, she married Harold Peterson in Benton Harbor, Michigan, on January 19, 1946.
After raising her three daughters in Muskegon, Momma eventually split time between Central Florida and Twin Lake, Michigan, an adored pillar of her communities. Momma was as steadfast as she was self-sufficient, climbing onto her roof to clean her gutters in her eighties and mowing her lawn in her nineties. A voracious reader, Momma made frequent use of her library card, checking out large-print mystery novels on a weekly basis. She was an incredibly loving and generous woman, whose strength, clever wit, and dedication nurtured three generations of her family. Her love, whether conveyed through a pat of the hand across the table or a video chat across the country, was deeply felt and will be sorely missed.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; her daughter, Sandra "Korkye" Sternburgh; and her son-in-law, Arnold Geller.
She is survived by daughters Judith Brouwer Geller and Janine Despres (Bernard); son-in-law Joe Sternburgh; grandchildren Samantha Geller (Martin), Jody Sternburgh Wells (Corey), Allison Sternburgh Bobby (Greg), Jacob Sternburgh (Jessica), and Matthew Despres (Monica); and great-grandchildren Kendall and Molly Wells, Andi and Dash Sternburgh, and Nora Bobby.
Friends may call on Friday, November 22, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at Ever Rest Funeral Home, 1738 Keating Avenue, Muskegon, Michigan. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 23 at 11:00 am at Ever Rest Funeral Home with burial to follow at St. Mary's Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Michigan or Twin Lake Michigan Library
