Theresa Anne Peterson's Obituary
Theresa Anne Peterson, 92, of Bradenton, FL, passed away March 21.
Anne (known lovingly as Nani to her grandchildren) lived her life with a smile and a legacy of hard work, resilience, perseverance, and strength. She showed hospitality, generosity and service to all who encountered her. Proverbs 31:28-30 "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.' Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
She attended Westbrook High School in Maine where she lettered in basketball. After graduation she attended Barbizon Modeling School and appeared in print advertising. Anne always loved to dance and dressing up for "formals". She met Creighton Tabb, Jr. (June 12, 1932—Aug. 20, 1971) at a dance while he was on shore leave from the Coast Guard. They married in 1953, moved to Kansas starting a family of five children. They moved to Orlando, Florida in 1964 where he pursued his career in Architecture. They later moved to Eustis where he started his own business in Architecture until his passing in 1971. She always maintained the home as a place filled with love and stability. She met and married John Peterson, a mechanical engineer who worked for Stromberg Carlson and General Dynamics in 1976. Anne learned to sew at an early age and used her skills to sew everything from curtains to clothing for her family. Her own wardrobe was filled with many items she made for herself, always looking adorable and stylish. Later in life her sewing hobby benefited hundreds of children who visited Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis, FL, sewing over 400 patchwork teddy bears for campers.
While being the quintessential homemaker, she was a skilled cook for family and friends. She loved baking sweets, always keeping the home cookie jar full with her family favorite oatmeal cookies. She celebrated everyone's birthday with a tasty meal and cake. So many holidays were spent around her dinner table. Anne loved working in her yard, yellow roses were her favorite.
All through Anne's life her devotion to God and her Catholic faith was evident. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic church in Eustis and later, St. Patrick's in Mt. Dora. She was a member of the Women's Sodality groups and volunteered over 30 years with the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank in Eustis. They lived in Eustis/Mt. Dora until 2024 when they moved to Bradenton, FL. Anne was awarded The Central Florida Blood Bank Honors for donating 4 gallons worth of blood.
Anne is survived by her husband of almost 50 years, John/Jack Peterson; daughters Sandra (Jett) Riley and Linda (Randy) Chapman; beloved grandchildren Jeff (Kiki) Tabb, Jr., Steve (Nikki) Tabb, Leesa (Allen) Rollins, Nickie (Brad) Smith, Casey Riley, Holly (Aaron) Rosenthal, Creighton (Erika) Hall, Beth (Troy) Scott; 14 great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents Alma and Albert Ritchot, siblings Robert Ritchot, Ellen Bowman and Jacqueline Pattison; husband Creighton Tabb, Jr., children Jeffrey Tabb, Dwight Steven Tabb, and Karen White.
Funeral mass will be held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Mt. Dora, Florida, 6803 Old Hwy. 441 South, on April 7th at 9:00am followed by a graveside inurnment at Greenwood Cemetery, 220 Haselton St., Eustis, Florida. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 218 Ocklawaha Ave., Eustis, FL 32726 or Camp Boggy Creek, 30500 Brantley Branch Rd., Eustis, FL 32736.
Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared on the tribute wall.
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