Linda Peterson

Linda (Schneider) Peterson, 84, died on Sunday, September 17, 2023, at home surrounded by family. She was the beloved wife of the late Christopher B. Peterson, until his passing in 2002. Linda was born in Schenectady, NY on April 25, 1939, the second daughter of three children (Sonia, Linda, and Ronald) born to the late Martha (Buerkle) and Elbert Schneider.

As a young girl, Linda was involved in the Girl Scouts of America and achieved GSA's highest award - The Gold Award. During high school she developed an interest in theater and the arts. After graduating from High School in Waynesboro, VA, she attended the College of William & Mary and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1957. She was an avid reader and scrapbooker, and enjoyed sharing her many albums with her grandchildren.

In 1961, Linda met and fell in love with Christopher Bailey Peterson. They married the following year at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Waynesboro, VA and began their lifelong family journey. Chris was a career Naval officer, and over the next 30 years, Linda worked as an elementary school teacher as the family relocated to various naval bases. Her primary focus and greatest joy, however, was raising her two boys, Todd and Mark.

Linda enjoyed needlepoint, jigsaw puzzles, music, reading and traveling when the opportunity arose. As the years progressed, a neurodegenerative disease made it increasingly difficult for Linda to get around and communicate and she relied more and more on her family. Chris retired from his life at sea to care for her until his death in 2002. After Chris's passing, Linda lived in Imperial Beach, CA and then relocated to Westford, where she lived with her son Mark and his family until her passing. Mark and Todd had the privilege of seeing to their mother's care and kept her close to their families over the last two decades while her disease advanced.

Family was always important to Linda, and she will be deeply missed by her two sons, Todd B. Peterson and his wife Stephanie of Imperial Beach, CA and Mark C. Peterson and his wife Bridget of Westford; her eight grandchildren, Tia, Sasha, Ailis, Aidan, Teagan, Keelan, Kieran, and Haneen; her brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Diane Schneider and their boys; as well as many other family and friends. The family would like to acknowledge and thank the many wonderful nurses and caregivers who made it possible for Linda to remain at home with her family, including Irma Villa, Charles Quarm, Karla Garcia, Diane Veloso and Elia Veloso.

Linda was preceded in death by her dear sister, Sonia Lorette Schneider.

A private memorial and burial will take place at Augusta Memorial Park, Waynesboro, VA this spring. Donations may be made in Linda’s memory to the National Organization for Rare Diseases, https://rarediseases.org/donate-nord/.