Marilyn Ann Peterson

Marilyn Ann Peterson, 95, was born on November 14, 1924, in Chicago, IL, to Raymond L. Pettersen and Lillian A. Sloier. and passed away January 2, 2020. She resided in Anaheim Hills, CA at the time of her passing. Marilyn was raised in Chicago. She attended Northwestern University, then she became employed at WBBM Chicago, a CBS affiliate. Marilyn spent her summers in Lake Michigan with her Grandmother whom she adored. Eventually, she moved to Wisconsin, then on to California for the majority of her life with a few years spent living in Colorado as well.

Marilyn worked hard as a real estate broker and saved so she was able to travel the world and shop until she dropped! She travelled to Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico and went on a Christmas Shopping Tour in Germany, She also traveled across the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. She loved to sew and with the help of her daughters, she hand beaded a gown she wore to the opening of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Marilyn loved building puzzles and did so with all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was dedicated to sharing life with her three children and took them to numerous museums, notable landmarks, factory tours so they could broaden their view of the world with her serving as their guide. Marilyn's passion for American Indian culture was ignited as a child on a family train ride with her grandmother to a dude ranch in the Dakotas. This passion was fueled further after she read the book, "Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee" in 1970 and led to her lifelong support of several American Indian schools, in particular St. Labre Indian School. She enjoyed spending time golfing and playing bridge with her friends. She also loved to camp and hike, at one point taking her three children on a two-month camping trip around the western US and Canada. She continued camping and hiking well into her 80's. Her most memorable trip though was getting to see the Northern Lights from Alaska with her son and his wife, realizing a dream she had of seeing the lights again as she had in Lake Michigan when she was a child.

Marilyn was preceded in death by William L. Walsh, Donald T. Peterson, and Lawrence A. Wackerman. Marilyn and late-husband William L. Walsh, had three children who survive her, Conni Wackerman, Mark Walsh and spouse Alice Walsh, Patti Wiley and spouse Roy Wiley. She has five grandchildren, Marcie Pomeroy and spouse Jason Pomeroy, Bill Kesserman and spouse Jackie Kesserman, Tim Wiley and spouse Jessica LaCava-Wiley, Chris Wiley and fiance Briten Douglas, Kelli Horry and spouse Tyler Horry. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren Preston, Thomas, and Ellie Grace Pomeroy, Jackson and Charlotte Kesserman, Harlynn and Anja LaCava-Wiley and newborn Tucker Horry. Marilyn married second husband, the late Donald T. Peterson, and is survived by her stepdaughters Donna Johns and Wendy Peterson.

Marilyn was still hiking in Yosemite at 88 years old even though she needed to use her walker. She was always a motivated person and she got the best out of the life she lived. Alzheimer's may have taken most of her final years away, but she had so many amazing years before the disease took her health and we will all cherish those memories forever. Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, Marilyn, we love you and you have impacted each and every one of us in a very special way. Rest in peace now, pain free and worry free.

In lieu of flowers, Marilyn would have appreciated support for her favorite charities, St. Labre Indian School (www.stlabre.org), World Wildlife Fund (https://support.worldwildlife.org), Alzheimer's Association (https://act.alz.org), or PBS SoCal (https://www.pbssocal.org/support/donate/).

Marilyn will be resting in peace alongside her late husband Donald T. Peterson and her late son-in-law Lawrence A. Wackerman. Please feel free to drop into a local Roman Catholic church and light a candle in her memory. These candles may be lit by anyone, Catholic or not, to demonstrate the intention of a person's prayer for Marilyn.

We would like to give a special thanks to all the people who played an important role in the last few years of our mother's life. We thank the staff of Hillcrest Residential, in particular Ruby.

Services will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church 344 W. Workman St., Covina, CA at 10am, with internment immediately following at Forest Lawn. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, California.

I Am Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path God has laid you see.
I took His hand when I heard him call
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I found that peace at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
Oh yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee
God wanted me now; He set me free.