Rafaela Peterson

Rafaela Molina Peterson was born in her parent’s house in Bishop, Texas on October 24, 1948. She was the daughter of Josephina Molina Lopez and Sebastian Lopez. Rafaela grew up with four brothers; Gilbert, Lucio, Geronimo, and Luis in Petronila, Texas. Her childhood was described as a very humble one in rural Petronila. She shared stories of picking cotton, caring for chickens, and hanging clothes on the line.

When she was 26 years old, she was introduced to a co-worker of her brother at the local television transmitter station: Eugene Alan Peterson. She told her children that he drove a blue pick up truck, and she could see it traveling up the country road to the transmitter, and how she would sneak away to meet Eugene at a nearby bridge. They were married in February of 1976. Shortly after, they relocated to Dallas, Texas. She often talked about how scary it was to be in a big city. It was her first time living in an apartment and experiencing the lifestyles of the Oak Lawn area.

In May of 1981, the Petersons had their first daughter, Monica Maria Peterson. Nine months later they found out the family was going to grow again and in October of 1982, their second daughter, Maria Elena Peterson, was born. The family was blessed with one more child in

August of 1986, Michael Vincent Peterson.

Accomplishments in her late 30s included learning how to drive, getting a driver’s license, and finding employment. Rafaela worked at a restaurant called Casa Loya and as a cleaner at AT&T. Most of the 90s and 2000s she worked at Sammy Walker BBQ restaurant. She developed a fond friendship with the Walker family as well as friendships with customers of Pleasant Grove.

Rafaela occupied her free time caring for animals, arts and crafts, and watching the Dallas Cowboys. In 2004, Monica Peterson-Martinez gave birth to her her first daughter, Natalie Martinez and her second daughter, Kayley Marie Martinez, in 2006. In 2006, her son Michael announced the birth of his first daughter Brittney Michelle Peterson. Rafaela was so excited and was very eager to baby sit.

In 2006/2007 she became guardian of Brittney Michelle Peterson and devoted her senior years to raising her granddaughter. Unfortunately, in 2018 she lost the love of her life when Eugene Peterson passed away. Rafaela returned to Corpus Christi, where she succumbed to stage 4 kidney failure on September 15, 2023. She has joined her beloved and has been called to heaven. She is survived by her children Monica Peterson-Martinez, Maria Peterson-Moffitt, Michael Vincent Peterson as well as her eleven grandchildren.