Burial Date
Obituaries » JEAN S. PETERSON
PETERSON, JEAN S., of Chelsea, died August 12 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, with her husband and children by her side. Jean was born on June 23, 1933, in Bay Shore, N.Y. She was the daughter of Ward G. and Phoebe S. McLaughlin. Jean graduated from Bay Shore High School, where her father was the principal for 23 years. She earned her undergraduate degree and two master’s degrees from the University of Vermont. Jean had a long career in education, beginning at Berlin Elementary School, with many years of teaching in the living arts program at U-32 High School. She ended her career as a counselor and educator at the Spaulding High School Vocational Center. Jean was a devoted member of the Christ Church in Montpelier. Her contributions to the church community were numerous; she knitted prayer shawls for those in need, sang in the summer choir, ushered, and brightened the sanctuary with her wonderful flower arrangements. Throughout her life, Jean was an active volunteer. Recently, she worked in the Chelsea and Tunbridge schools as a reading mentor and served on the board of directors of the Brookhaven School. She enjoyed gardening, bird-watching, traveling, cribbage, reading, watching sports and following the Boston Red Sox. Jean loved knitting, sewing, scrapbooking and working on craft projects. Jean was predeceased by her mother, father and second husband, Paul Ohman. She is survived by her devoted husband, Walter Rockwood, with whom she enjoyed traveling, playing cribbage and savoring the view from their lovely log home in Chelsea. She leaves behind one of her favorite people in the world, her brother J. Stewart McLaughlin, wife, Laura, and their daughter. She is also survived by Ed Peterson, the father of her four children. Jean was the beloved mother of Zoe Erdman, of Williston, John Peterson and wife, Elizabeth Bomberg, of Edinburgh, Scotland, Joy Peterson and husband, Carter Smith, of Williston, and Karen Peterson and husband, Evan Morgan, of Crockett, Calif. She was a kind and caring stepmother to Rich Rockwood and wife, Stephanie, Tim Rockwood and wife, Codie, Pam Russell and husband, Andy, and Bill Rockwood and wife, Cindy. Jean was an especially loving and devoted grandmother to her grandchildren and step-grandchildren. She was a dedicated fan at all of their activities, willing to brave the elements to cheer at any event. She will be greatly missed by her many friends and her loving family.
