Donna Peterson

Donna Peterson, 71, of Cold Spring, died Aug. 3, 2018, of cancer.

She was born Dec. 13, 1946, in the Bronx, the daughter of Rose and Eugene Spencer. She graduated from Hunter College with a degree in English and elementary education in 1968 and taught at Public School 63 in the Bronx.

Donna married Richard Peterson in 1969 and left teaching to start their family in 1970. The Petersons moved to Cold Spring in 1971, where Donna became a parishioner at Our Lady of Loretto, as well as an active and supportive parent in the Haldane school district. From 1994 to 1997 she worked with children at the Philipstown Recreation Department’s afterschool program.

Donna devoted her life to the care of her family. Her passions included cooking, gardening, music, the arts and animals, both pets and wildlife. Her faith in God is what truly inspired her life, though, and gave her strength to get through the difficult times after her cancer diagnosis in 2015.

Besides her husband of 49 years, she is survived by her daughters, Laura Peterson, Jennifer Hackney, Christine Peterson and Amy Sherlock; five grandchildren: Mackenzie, Samuel, Robbie, Savannah and Michael; and her siblings Gene Spencer, Warren Spencer and Karen Major.

Friends may call on Monday, Aug. 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Clinton Funeral Home, 21 Parrott St., in Cold Spring. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Loretto, 24 Fair St., with interment following at Cold Spring Cemetery.

Information provided by Clinton Funeral Home.

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Type: Obituary

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