Rita Catherine Peters

Rita Catherine Peters

AGE: 92 • Marlton

Rita Catherine Peters, 92, of Marlton, passed away on June 5, 2014 at the Vitas Hospice Center at Kennedy Hospital in Stratford, NJ, following complications from a stroke. Mrs. Peters was born Rita C. Ballard on July 18, 1921, in Salamanca, New York and graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 1943, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. At St. Bonaventure she studied History and Spanish and met her future husband, James Peters. Among their college English instructors was the soon to be famous author and Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. Following a post-graduate semester in Mexico, and a Master's degree shortly thereafter, Mrs. Peters embarked on a career in elementary education which covered nearly forty years. She taught in Salamanca, New York and in several South Jersey public school systems, including Pennsauken and Willingboro, teaching first grade for eighteen years at the Joseph McGinley School in the Millbrook section of Willingboro until her retirement in 1980. She then taught for several additional years at St. Mary of the Lakes School in Medford, and continued to serve as a substitute teacher there well into her 70s.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 53 years, James Martin Peters, in 1999, and by her sister Mary in 1979. She is survived by her children: Susan Martini (Joseph), of West Chester, PA; Brian Peters (Eve) of Riverton; Elizabeth Stakenburg (Folkert), of Cherry Hill; and Timothy Peters (Kathleen), of Exeter, NY; by her grandchildren: Christa Martini Henson, of Hudson, MA; Sarah Scala, of Moorestown; Matthew Martini, of Nahant, MA; Joshua Peters, of West Palm Beach, FL; and Gregory Stakenburg, Mark Stakenburg, and Grace Stakenburg, all of Cherry Hill; and by her great-grandchildren: Claire Miano and Ella Miano, of Moorestown; Lila Rose Martini, of Nahant, MA; Colin Peters, of West Palm Beach, FL; by her cousin Charles "Bud" Crist, of Salamanca; by many nephews and nieces; and by her adored West Highland Terrier, Bridget. Aside from her family, Mrs. Peters loved travel—her trips over four decades ranged from Rome to Prague to Alaska. She played Bridge, and was a CCD teacher who volunteered regularly at St. Mary's. She was a devoted parishioner for over 35 years at St. Joan of Arc in Marlton, had a wide circle of friends, and lived independently until a few days before her passing, six weeks shy of her 93rd birthday.

Relatives and friends may call on Monday, June 9, 2014, from 6-8PM, and again on Tuesday, June 10, from 8:30-9:30AM, at the Mathis Funeral Home, 58 N. Main St., Medford, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, at 10AM, at St. Joan of Arc R.C. Church, 100 Willow Bend Rd., Marlton, NJ. Interment will follow in New St. Mary's Cemetery. Bellmawr, NJ. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Rita's memory to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Rd., 2nd Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814; or to the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of ALS, 321 Norristown Rd., Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002.