Joan Peterson

Joan Peterson (Schaffner) of Venice, FL, born February 13, 1929, New York, NY, died November 27, 2012. She was the youngest child of Frederick Schaffner and Marie Schaffner of Queens, NY. She was preceded in death by her husband Edwin, her brother Frederick Schaffner and her sister Marjorie (Schaffner) Lucas.

She married Edwin A. Peterson in New York, NY on June 16, 1951. They were happily married for over 61 years. Joan was a devoted wife to her husband "Pete" and devoted mother to their three children. She was an accomplished painter and their home was filled with her wonderful still-life and landscape paintings. She also enjoyed reading, sewing and hooking rugs and was a great cook. Joan had a warm sense of humor and was always ready with a smile.

Joan and Pete shared their lives with each other in every way. They both loved the water and enjoyed sailing. Once they moved to Englewood Florida in 1979 they particularly enjoyed racing as members of the Venice Sailing Squadron. She loved to travel and they found themselves visiting many exotic places the world over. Joan and Pete loved music and singing; they were long time members of the Englewood United Methodist Church choir and bell choir. They delivered food for the local Meals-on-Wheels. Joan was a volunteer at the Englewood Chamber of Commerce and also volunteered at the Englewood Clinic before it became Englewood Hospital.

Joan survived her beloved husband Pete by three days, and is survived by their three children: Kim Peterson-Yantorno and her husband Bob Yantorno of Edgartown, MA, and Englewood, FL; Jill Harrison and her husband Ray of Hygiene, CO; and Mark Peterson and his wife Linda of Riverview, FL; five grandchildren; Matthew Hewitt and his wife Becky of Portland, OR; Kerstin Benson and her husband Jon of Westminster, CO; Joan Harrison of Hygiene, CO; David Peterson and Samantha Peterson of Riverview, FL and one great-grandchild, James Hewitt of Portland, OR.