Mildred May Petersen

Mildred May Petersen, nee McDonald, passed through Heaven's gates at age 94 on January 10, 2012. Her 3 children were gathered around her at Tidewell's Charlotte Hospice House, as she concluded almost 12 pleasant years in good health in Florida. She enjoyed the Florida sunshine, tropical beaches and palms with her daughter Christie Foster and husband Ted. She had lived in Punta Gorda for 5 years, spending time reading, walking, and shopping. In 2004 she moved to River Commons in Port Charlotte, dedicated to seniors still living independently. She loved Wednesdays when Christie took her exploring at one of the many local Parks/Beaches, and Sundays enjoying Ted's marvelous Sunday Dinners on the patio watching the sunset. She would often talk about her life-long explorations of the great outdoors with family, and her love of the roar of the oceans as the waves crashed ashore. Mildred, once a spritely brunette, graduated from West Seattle High School in 1935, in Seattle, Washington. She attended Seattle College (now University) studying to be a dietician. During this time she met and married Hans (Pete) Petersen, who soon took her to California and on to Hawaii. They were living there when Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941! She returned stateside when Pete rejoined the Merchant Marine to serve as a M.M. Engineer in the Pacific Theatre during the war. Unfortunately, Pete contracted TB which couldn't be cured, and succumbed in 1949 when their only child, Christie was just 5 years old. Mildred's two sons, Davis and Craig, were born in the 1950's during her second marriage to Ivan W. Dyer, also since deceased. Our Mother supported her family through the years working at Seattle's Port of Embarkation, General Electric, Westinghouse, and the US Post Office, from which she retired after 20 years in 1979. In her retirement she traveled the country often to visit family & friends in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Oregon, Pennsylvania & Texas. Her daughter Christie moved her to Punta Gorda in 1999, just in time to celebrate the Millennium! She walked daily until the last few years of sedentary-only enjoyments, which had always included the reading of mystery novels and the daily Crossword puzzles. Mildred truly enjoyed her retirement, and especially loved Ted's great cooking every Sunday. Our Mother Mildred's sweet manner, gentle appreciation and support for her family, and love of the great outdoors will be treasured always. She was so brave in the face of adversity. She will be remembered as being broad-minded, fiercely independent, and ahead of her time in advocating equality for women. She is survived by her brother Ralph McDonald, daughter Christie Foster and sons Davis and Craig Dyer, 3 granddaughters Erika Cottrell, Kelsey Hedahl and Veronica Parfait; 2 grandsons Colin and Graham Dyer, and 2 great-granddaughters Sidney and Grace Cottrell. All but Christie reside in the Pacific Northwest. Mother so enjoyed our dear friend and nurse, Nancy Bertram of Port Charlotte, who also comforted Mother in her final months and explained Medical issues to the rest of us. Mildred's cremains will be 'buried at sea' in the waters of Puget Sound, in Washington, in a Family Memorial Service this summer.