Rachel G. Petersen

Rachel G. Petersen, 75, resident of Mason, NH, died unexpectedly of natural causes on July 8, 2009 at her home. She was born in Newport, NH on March 29, 1934, a daughter of the late Armand & Marie (Pierre) Geoffrion. She was raised and educated in Newport, NH and graduated from Plymouth Teacher�s College. For more than 25 years, she devoted herself to her students as a 5th grade teacher at the Brookline Elementary School. Mrs. Petersen made her home in Mason for the past 19 years and formerly lived in Brookline, NH for many years. Mrs. Petersen was an active member of her community, having served on the Mascenic School Board and as ballot clerk for the Town of Mason. She especially enjoyed attending lectures at the Peterborough Lyceum and Saturday afternoon movies at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre. In addition, she was a member of the Seniors Group, Adventurers of Wilton. She took great joy in volunteering her time helping people through the Souhegan Active Literacy Team�s ESOL Program, Share Outreach Program, and FISH (Friends in Service Helping). She was an avid knitter and bridge player. She had a passion for American history and civics and retained an active interest in current events, public policy and politics. Mrs. Petersen was a communicant of St. Patrick�s Church and had served as a lector and Eucharistic minister. A loving mother and grandmother, she was deeply devoted to her family and always cherished their time spent together. She also enjoyed the outdoors and long walks with her dog, Freckles. Mrs. Petersen was predeceased by a sister, Rita Leistyna. Family members include three sons and daughters-in-law, David Petersen and Wendy Wood of Falmouth, ME, Jeffrey and Kathrine Petersen of Griswold, CT, James and Alison Petersen of Eliot, ME; two daughters and a son-in-law, Jeanne Herrick of Concord, NH, Martha and Steven Sareault of Milford; 14 Grandchildren; a sister, Jeanette Penney of Atkinson, NH; a brother, Maurice Geoffrion of Sutton, NH; many nieces and nephews. Calling hours are Monday evening, July 13th from 5:00-7:00 pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:00 am in St. Patrick�s Church, 34 Amherst Street, Milford. Burial will be at a later date in St. Patrick�s Cemetery, Newport, NH. Donations in her memory may be made to Share Outreach, Inc., 1 Columbus Avenue, Milford, NH 03055.