WEST BRIDGEWATER----The Lord bent down and kissed his faithful servant Birdie and she awoke in her heavenly home. Delia Birdena (Anderson) Peterson passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on May 4, 2020 at the home of her daughter in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
Birdie was born on April 2, 1926 in Stockholm, Maine, to Martin G. Anderson and Ruth Olson Anderson. The oldest of seven, she grew up on School Street in Stockholm. As a child she was involved with 4H club, and some of her favorite childhood memories were picking potatoes at her uncle John's farm, swimming on Sunday afternoons at her grandfather's cottage and making homemade ice cream.
When she was fifteen years old, she moved with her family to Brighton, MA so her father could work in the Boston Shipyard as a carpenter. In high school, she could be found some afternoons reading the bible or the newspaper to one of her neighbors who had lost her sight, or volunteering at the USO Service Centers at Tremont Temple in Boston. She attended Brighton High School for a while, but soon had an opportunity to enroll at Boston Trade School. Ever since childhood, she had loved to sew, so she was excited to be able to pursue her passion for sewing and dressmaking. Her mother, however, did not approve of trade school, so Birdie worked for Filene's while going to school so she could afford bus fare.
In 1946 Birdie married the love of her life, Gustave T. Peterson, who she met one Sunday at church when he had returned from his service in the Army-Air Force. They eventually settled in Lexington, MA, where they raised their four children, Polly Peterson, David Peterson, Ellen Bartlett, and Daniel Peterson.
A founding member of Grace Chapel, Birdie led their nursing home tray favor ministry, making beautiful things every month for five local nursing homes. She also volunteered with Pioneer Girls, and continued to take on work as a tailor and dressmaker. She also sold Raleigh products and was a direct distributor for Amway.
In the 1980's, Birdie and Gus returned to their Swedish and family roots in Stockholm, Maine. They bought the family cottage on Madawaska Lake and summered in Maine for many years, eventually selling their Lexington home and living in Stockholm year-round. Birdie was a faithful member of the Stockholm Baptist Church, and was superintendent of Sunday School, always making delicious food for meetings and gatherings. She volunteered at the Stockholm museum, and both she and Gus had many friends and enjoyed living a simple life in their small community.
In the early 2000's as she and Gus got older, they began wintering in Massachusetts with their daughter Ellen and her husband, Ray. Birdie stayed as busy as ever, knitting countless dolls as a part of Franklin Graham's shoebox ministry, and having her family and friends for tea. In more recent years, as part of New Hope Christian Chapel in Easton, she found a way to bless others alongside the Love from Above ministry by knitting colorful squares that are made into blankets for Romanian orphanages. Despite persistent arthritis, over the years she knit hundreds upon hundreds of squares, her last square knit just a week ago. She greatly enjoyed putting together jigsaw puzzles for hours and hours, especially with her friend Sally. She also loved her personal care assistant Sophia who came daily for over five years and became like family.
Birdie was a determined and compassionate, driven by her love for people and desire to help others. She felt blessed to live out her days in the care of family, and she never stopped loving ice cream, sweets, and her Swedish heritage. Most will remember Birdie at her sewing machine—her passion for sewing or knitting never waned. Neither did her sass—she was as clever and quick-witted as ever until her last days.
Birdie was pre-deceased by her husband Gustave Thorwald Peterson, who passed away October 2, 2015. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Lillian Cylik, sisters Phyllis Stranahan and Natalie Dam and brother Harley Anderson & his wife Carole, sister-in-law Irene Anderson & Kathy Anderson; her children, Paulette Peterson of West Newbury, son David Peterson of Billerica, daughter Ellen Bartlett and husband Ray of West Bridgewater, and son Daniel Peterson & wife Kathy of Mt. Gilead, NC; grandchildren Lauri Shea, David Peterson, Paul Peterson, Joshua Jamison, Nicole Shea, Michelle Stratton, Robert Bartlett, Alexandra Peterson, Theodora Peterson; great-grandchildren, Christopher Hocker and Isabella and Isaiah Shea, Caley, Madey, and Jack Shea, Rebecca Peterson, Tyler and Riley Peterson, Sean and Michael Peterson, Elias, Piper, Griffin, and Elouise Stratton, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Sonny and Lloyd Anderson, sister Lucille and her husband Freddie Conway, brother-in-law's John Stranahan, Donald Dam, Richard Cylik and her grandson Jamie Peterson.
She will be laid to rest in Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne beside her husband Gus. A celebration of her life will take place at a later date this year.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Birdie's honor to New Hope Christian Chapel. https://www.newhopechristianchapel.org/give
Kane Funeral Home
Birdie was born on April 2, 1926 in Stockholm, Maine, to Martin G. Anderson and Ruth Olson Anderson. The oldest of seven, she grew up on School Street in Stockholm. As a child she was involved with 4H club, and some of her favorite childhood memories were picking potatoes at her uncle John's farm, swimming on Sunday afternoons at her grandfather's cottage and making homemade ice cream.
When she was fifteen years old, she moved with her family to Brighton, MA so her father could work in the Boston Shipyard as a carpenter. In high school, she could be found some afternoons reading the bible or the newspaper to one of her neighbors who had lost her sight, or volunteering at the USO Service Centers at Tremont Temple in Boston. She attended Brighton High School for a while, but soon had an opportunity to enroll at Boston Trade School. Ever since childhood, she had loved to sew, so she was excited to be able to pursue her passion for sewing and dressmaking. Her mother, however, did not approve of trade school, so Birdie worked for Filene's while going to school so she could afford bus fare.
In 1946 Birdie married the love of her life, Gustave T. Peterson, who she met one Sunday at church when he had returned from his service in the Army-Air Force. They eventually settled in Lexington, MA, where they raised their four children, Polly Peterson, David Peterson, Ellen Bartlett, and Daniel Peterson.
A founding member of Grace Chapel, Birdie led their nursing home tray favor ministry, making beautiful things every month for five local nursing homes. She also volunteered with Pioneer Girls, and continued to take on work as a tailor and dressmaker. She also sold Raleigh products and was a direct distributor for Amway.
In the 1980's, Birdie and Gus returned to their Swedish and family roots in Stockholm, Maine. They bought the family cottage on Madawaska Lake and summered in Maine for many years, eventually selling their Lexington home and living in Stockholm year-round. Birdie was a faithful member of the Stockholm Baptist Church, and was superintendent of Sunday School, always making delicious food for meetings and gatherings. She volunteered at the Stockholm museum, and both she and Gus had many friends and enjoyed living a simple life in their small community.
In the early 2000's as she and Gus got older, they began wintering in Massachusetts with their daughter Ellen and her husband, Ray. Birdie stayed as busy as ever, knitting countless dolls as a part of Franklin Graham's shoebox ministry, and having her family and friends for tea. In more recent years, as part of New Hope Christian Chapel in Easton, she found a way to bless others alongside the Love from Above ministry by knitting colorful squares that are made into blankets for Romanian orphanages. Despite persistent arthritis, over the years she knit hundreds upon hundreds of squares, her last square knit just a week ago. She greatly enjoyed putting together jigsaw puzzles for hours and hours, especially with her friend Sally. She also loved her personal care assistant Sophia who came daily for over five years and became like family.
Birdie was a determined and compassionate, driven by her love for people and desire to help others. She felt blessed to live out her days in the care of family, and she never stopped loving ice cream, sweets, and her Swedish heritage. Most will remember Birdie at her sewing machine—her passion for sewing or knitting never waned. Neither did her sass—she was as clever and quick-witted as ever until her last days.
Birdie was pre-deceased by her husband Gustave Thorwald Peterson, who passed away October 2, 2015. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Lillian Cylik, sisters Phyllis Stranahan and Natalie Dam and brother Harley Anderson & his wife Carole, sister-in-law Irene Anderson & Kathy Anderson; her children, Paulette Peterson of West Newbury, son David Peterson of Billerica, daughter Ellen Bartlett and husband Ray of West Bridgewater, and son Daniel Peterson & wife Kathy of Mt. Gilead, NC; grandchildren Lauri Shea, David Peterson, Paul Peterson, Joshua Jamison, Nicole Shea, Michelle Stratton, Robert Bartlett, Alexandra Peterson, Theodora Peterson; great-grandchildren, Christopher Hocker and Isabella and Isaiah Shea, Caley, Madey, and Jack Shea, Rebecca Peterson, Tyler and Riley Peterson, Sean and Michael Peterson, Elias, Piper, Griffin, and Elouise Stratton, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Sonny and Lloyd Anderson, sister Lucille and her husband Freddie Conway, brother-in-law's John Stranahan, Donald Dam, Richard Cylik and her grandson Jamie Peterson.
She will be laid to rest in Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne beside her husband Gus. A celebration of her life will take place at a later date this year.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Birdie's honor to New Hope Christian Chapel. https://www.newhopechristianchapel.org/give
Kane Funeral Home
WEST BRIDGEWATER----The Lord bent down and kissed his faithful servant Birdie and she awoke in her heavenly home. Delia Birdena (Anderson) Peterson passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on May 4, 2020 at the home of her daughter in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
Birdie was born on April 2, 1926 in Stockholm, Maine, to Martin G. Anderson and Ruth Olson Anderson. The oldest of seven, she grew up on School Street in Stockholm. As a child she was involved with 4H club, and some of her favorite childhood memories were picking potatoes at her uncle John's farm, swimming on Sunday afternoons at her grandfather's cottage and making homemade ice cream.
When she was fifteen years old, she moved with her family to Brighton, MA so her father could work in the Boston Shipyard as a carpenter. In high school, she could be found some afternoons reading the bible or the newspaper to one of her neighbors who had lost her sight, or volunteering at the USO Service Centers at Tremont Temple in Boston. She attended Brighton High School for a while, but soon had an opportunity to enroll at Boston Trade School. Ever since childhood, she had loved to sew, so she was excited to be able to pursue her passion for sewing and dressmaking. Her mother, however, did not approve of trade school, so Birdie worked for Filene's while going to school so she could afford bus fare.
In 1946 Birdie married the love of her life, Gustave T. Peterson, who she met one Sunday at church when he had returned from his service in the Army-Air Force. They eventually settled in Lexington, MA, where they raised their four children, Polly Peterson, David Peterson, Ellen Bartlett, and Daniel Peterson.
A founding member of Grace Chapel, Birdie led their nursing home tray favor ministry, making beautiful things every month for five local nursing homes. She also volunteered with Pioneer Girls, and continued to take on work as a tailor and dressmaker. She also sold Raleigh products and was a direct distributor for Amway.
In the 1980's, Birdie and Gus returned to their Swedish and family roots in Stockholm, Maine. They bought the family cottage on Madawaska Lake and summered in Maine for many years, eventually selling their Lexington home and living in Stockholm year-round. Birdie was a faithful member of the Stockholm Baptist Church, and was superintendent of Sunday School, always making delicious food for meetings and gatherings. She volunteered at the Stockholm museum, and both she and Gus had many friends and enjoyed living a simple life in their small community.
In the early 2000's as she and Gus got older, they began wintering in Massachusetts with their daughter Ellen and her husband, Ray. Birdie stayed as busy as ever, knitting countless dolls as a part of Franklin Graham's shoebox ministry, and having her family and friends for tea. In more recent years, as part of New Hope Christian Chapel in Easton, she found a way to bless others alongside the Love from Above ministry by knitting colorful squares that are made into blankets for Romanian orphanages. Despite persistent arthritis, over the years she knit hundreds upon hundreds of squares, her last square knit just a week ago. She greatly enjoyed putting together jigsaw puzzles for hours and hours, especially with her friend Sally. She also loved her personal care assistant Sophia who came daily for over five years and became like family.
Birdie was a determined and compassionate, driven by her love for people and desire to help others. She felt blessed to live out her days in the care of family, and she never stopped loving ice cream, sweets, and her Swedish heritage. Most will remember Birdie at her sewing machine—her passion for sewing or knitting never waned. Neither did her sass—she was as clever and quick-witted as ever until her last days.
Birdie was pre-deceased by her husband Gustave Thorwald Peterson, who passed away October 2, 2015. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Lillian Cylik, sisters Phyllis Stranahan and Natalie Dam and brother Harley Anderson & his wife Carole, sister-in-law Irene Anderson & Kathy Anderson; her children, Paulette Peterson of West Newbury, son David Peterson of Billerica, daughter Ellen Bartlett and husband Ray of West Bridgewater, and son Daniel Peterson & wife Kathy of Mt. Gilead, NC; grandchildren Lauri Shea, David Peterson, Paul Peterson, Joshua Jamison, Nicole Shea, Michelle Stratton, Robert Bartlett, Alexandra Peterson, Theodora Peterson; great-grandchildren, Christopher Hocker and Isabella and Isaiah Shea, Caley, Madey, and Jack Shea, Rebecca Peterson, Tyler and Riley Peterson, Sean and Michael Peterson, Elias, Piper, Griffin, and Elouise Stratton, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Sonny and Lloyd Anderson, sister Lucille and her husband Freddie Conway, brother-in-law's John Stranahan, Donald Dam, Richard Cylik and her grandson Jamie Peterson.
She will be laid to rest in Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne beside her husband Gus. A celebration of her life will take place at a later date this year.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Birdie's honor to New Hope Christian Chapel. https://www.newhopechristianchapel.org/give
Kane Funeral Home
Birdie was born on April 2, 1926 in Stockholm, Maine, to Martin G. Anderson and Ruth Olson Anderson. The oldest of seven, she grew up on School Street in Stockholm. As a child she was involved with 4H club, and some of her favorite childhood memories were picking potatoes at her uncle John's farm, swimming on Sunday afternoons at her grandfather's cottage and making homemade ice cream.
When she was fifteen years old, she moved with her family to Brighton, MA so her father could work in the Boston Shipyard as a carpenter. In high school, she could be found some afternoons reading the bible or the newspaper to one of her neighbors who had lost her sight, or volunteering at the USO Service Centers at Tremont Temple in Boston. She attended Brighton High School for a while, but soon had an opportunity to enroll at Boston Trade School. Ever since childhood, she had loved to sew, so she was excited to be able to pursue her passion for sewing and dressmaking. Her mother, however, did not approve of trade school, so Birdie worked for Filene's while going to school so she could afford bus fare.
In 1946 Birdie married the love of her life, Gustave T. Peterson, who she met one Sunday at church when he had returned from his service in the Army-Air Force. They eventually settled in Lexington, MA, where they raised their four children, Polly Peterson, David Peterson, Ellen Bartlett, and Daniel Peterson.
A founding member of Grace Chapel, Birdie led their nursing home tray favor ministry, making beautiful things every month for five local nursing homes. She also volunteered with Pioneer Girls, and continued to take on work as a tailor and dressmaker. She also sold Raleigh products and was a direct distributor for Amway.
In the 1980's, Birdie and Gus returned to their Swedish and family roots in Stockholm, Maine. They bought the family cottage on Madawaska Lake and summered in Maine for many years, eventually selling their Lexington home and living in Stockholm year-round. Birdie was a faithful member of the Stockholm Baptist Church, and was superintendent of Sunday School, always making delicious food for meetings and gatherings. She volunteered at the Stockholm museum, and both she and Gus had many friends and enjoyed living a simple life in their small community.
In the early 2000's as she and Gus got older, they began wintering in Massachusetts with their daughter Ellen and her husband, Ray. Birdie stayed as busy as ever, knitting countless dolls as a part of Franklin Graham's shoebox ministry, and having her family and friends for tea. In more recent years, as part of New Hope Christian Chapel in Easton, she found a way to bless others alongside the Love from Above ministry by knitting colorful squares that are made into blankets for Romanian orphanages. Despite persistent arthritis, over the years she knit hundreds upon hundreds of squares, her last square knit just a week ago. She greatly enjoyed putting together jigsaw puzzles for hours and hours, especially with her friend Sally. She also loved her personal care assistant Sophia who came daily for over five years and became like family.
Birdie was a determined and compassionate, driven by her love for people and desire to help others. She felt blessed to live out her days in the care of family, and she never stopped loving ice cream, sweets, and her Swedish heritage. Most will remember Birdie at her sewing machine—her passion for sewing or knitting never waned. Neither did her sass—she was as clever and quick-witted as ever until her last days.
Birdie was pre-deceased by her husband Gustave Thorwald Peterson, who passed away October 2, 2015. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Lillian Cylik, sisters Phyllis Stranahan and Natalie Dam and brother Harley Anderson & his wife Carole, sister-in-law Irene Anderson & Kathy Anderson; her children, Paulette Peterson of West Newbury, son David Peterson of Billerica, daughter Ellen Bartlett and husband Ray of West Bridgewater, and son Daniel Peterson & wife Kathy of Mt. Gilead, NC; grandchildren Lauri Shea, David Peterson, Paul Peterson, Joshua Jamison, Nicole Shea, Michelle Stratton, Robert Bartlett, Alexandra Peterson, Theodora Peterson; great-grandchildren, Christopher Hocker and Isabella and Isaiah Shea, Caley, Madey, and Jack Shea, Rebecca Peterson, Tyler and Riley Peterson, Sean and Michael Peterson, Elias, Piper, Griffin, and Elouise Stratton, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Sonny and Lloyd Anderson, sister Lucille and her husband Freddie Conway, brother-in-law's John Stranahan, Donald Dam, Richard Cylik and her grandson Jamie Peterson.
She will be laid to rest in Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne beside her husband Gus. A celebration of her life will take place at a later date this year.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Birdie's honor to New Hope Christian Chapel. https://www.newhopechristianchapel.org/give
Kane Funeral Home
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