June Peterson

March 9, 1922 - May 24, 2021

“When you learn, teach. When you get, give.” - Maya Angelou

We would have loved more time with mom “Nana”, but she slipped away quietly at home, on a beautiful sunny day, after 99 years and a life filled with love and caring.

Born in Winnipeg, Mom struggled through a difficult childhood in Sanford Manitoba. At nineteen, delighted to leave the farm, she started nursing school at the Misercordia in Winnipeg. She excelled and graduated in June 1944 at the top of her class of 48, with the Executive Ability distinction.

Her early career working at Deer Lodge Hospital in the Officers Ward took a bit of a detour when she met Gordon Peterson - “the love of her life”. She met Gord at 24, while on route to Sioux Lookout with her nursing roommate, when they stopped in Kenora to meet her roommate’s Swedish family. She was also introduced to Lovestrands Bakery on Lakeside, the golf course and Gord’s welcoming family.

They were smitten from the start; Mom soon moved to Kenora and started nursing at the hospital. They married in June 1947, settling first on Lakeside, then Park St. where they raised their three daughters. From early family road trips, Mom and Dad continued to enjoy travelling across Canada, Hawaii, Australia and wintering in Arizona in later years.

Mom’s life drew purpose and meaning from her love of nursing and caring for others. She worked in many different positions at the hospital, Pinecrest, Home Care and Palliative Care – all while balancing a busy domestic life: raising her family, gardening tirelessly, supporting dad’s golfing and curling interests, teaching Sunday school, and cooking for the Agape Table. She rarely slowed down. Even after retiring, she volunteered in the Dialysis Unit until she was 90.

Mom was a devoted member of Knox United Church while also enjoying services at Lakeside Baptist Church. She never had a driver’s license but drove a tractor on the farm and took over Dad’s scooter when he moved into Pinecrest. She was often spotted around town, travelling out to Pinecrest to visit dad, carrying a new plant home, or delivering a dinner or baking to a friend, happy to be independent.

She was a passionate gardener – her green thumb clearly reflected in both her garden beds and houseplants. Mom was still churning out baby sweater sets on order into her 90s – a testament to her love and skill at knitting. In recent years, she raised monarch butterflies with the help of her good friend Freda Holmes. Searching the roadside for milkweed to feed her larvae was an early summer outing she enjoyed. As usual, she aimed high: raising and releasing around 35 butterflies a year.

Baking was a core skill she passed on with commitment. Chores around the house always included both learning to bake and garden, and Nana enjoyed teaching both her grandchildren and her great grandchildren her baking mastery. In recent years, arthritic back pain motivated her to apply her knowledge in new ways: creating “special cookies” to help dull the pain.

Mom adapted with the times and took several computer courses in her 80s to stay connected to her grandchildren – all the while maintaining a steady stream of handwritten letters to friends and family throughout her life.

In her later years, she happily called Benedickson Court her home. Soon caring for the flower beds, baking and visiting other residents was part of her daily routine. She enjoyed gathering with many new friends at Benedickson. Another nurse, Bert Morgan, became a special friend. The support and friendship of her “covid bubble” was a relief and very much appreciated over this past challenging year.

Mom was predeceased by her loving husband of 69 years Gordon Peterson, parents; James and Miriam McKay, older brother and sister in law; Jim and Jean McKay, sister in law; Judy McKay; father and mother in law; August and Anna Peterson, three brothers in law and their wives; Melvin and Jean Peterson, Elof and Dora Peterson, Len and Elsie Peterson , four sisters in law and their husbands; Nancy and Axel Holmstrom, Edith and Ernie Brown, Ann and Helmer Malmstrom, Ruth and Keith Humphrey, son in law; Ray Marcine and infant great granddaughter; Ryan Glueheisen. She loved and was very proud of her daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren and enjoyed hearing about their latest endeavours and accomplishments. She is survived by her younger brother; Brian McKay (Australia), her daughters; Lana Marcine, Wendy Peterson, Elle Peterson, 7 grandchildren; Darren Marcine, Curt Marcine (Jackie ), Wendy Marcine, Arlo Sobiski (Kathryn), Yana Sobiski (Eli Blosser), Tara Pitre (Ed), Kyle Glueheisen (Andrea) and 8 great grandchildren; Sara, Katie, Benjamin, Sawyer, Scarlett Rose, Eloise, Charlotte, Soleil, Sterling and Everly as well as many nieces and nephews and their families.

The family would like to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Vaudry for his care over many years, Jan Roberson and Sarah Lava of Benedickson Court for their support, and a special thank you to all the staff for their years of exceptional care and compassion with special mention of Roxann, Libby and Shirley. Mom couldn’t say enough about your friendship, kindness and thoughtful gestures. A big family thanks to Les and Marie Brown for the little chores you did for mom and delicious meals dropped off regularly and to Karen Jorgenson for your thoughtful calls, books and visits. Thanks also to paramedic Dave Francis, and RN Candice Pitura for your home support and monitoring visits which mom appreciated. Thanks to the OPP Constable Carvelho for your respectful manner in supporting our family at a difficult time. We are also grateful for the support and guidance provided by Cory Jinkerson and the attendants from Brown’s Funeral Home.

Mom was very interested and enthusiastic about the All Nations Hospital plans, and was a participant in community events and providing feedback. If so desired, in lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in her memory to the new hospital through the Lake of The Woods Hospital Foundation. Due to health restrictions a celebration of her life will take place at a later date.

Online condolences may be made at www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com

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