Monica M. Petersen

Monica M. Petersen, 59, of Bedford, NH died peacefully with family and friends near after a brief and unexpected illness on October 13, 2007.

She is survived by her loving husband of 39 years, Donald, her son Andrew (Laura), two grandchildren who were the lights of her life, Isabelle and Davis; her two brothers Mark (Jill) Mulhern and Martin (Andrea Nelson) Mulhern, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Monica Petersen is preceded in death by her parents, John and Rose Mulhern, and her older sister Jane (Robert, also deceased) Steinman.

Monica Petersen was a determined and accomplished professional. After attending Wisconsin public schools, the University of Wisconsin system and the Madison (WI) Area Technical College, she entered and excelled at her career in retail fashion—working for Gimbel's and Prange's department stores and later for MotherCare Maternity, Inc. where she served in several management capacities.

After nearly 15 years in retail administration, she bravely and successfully transitioned careers and entered the banking and trust services sector—accepting a position with Nashua Trust Bank Corporation.

Over the course of the next 20 years and throughout numerous regional banking acquisitions, she was promoted to and prospered in her current position as Vice President-Portfolio Management and Private Advisory Services for Bank of America Corporation in Manchester, NH. Monica Petersen was respected and admired by her colleagues and beloved by her clients who viewed her as a trusted advisor, financial steward and personal friend.

Aside from her professional endeavors, Monica Petersen was an exceptional, generous and charitable leader. Active in numerous civic and volunteer activities in the Manchester, NH community including the United Way, the soup kitchen and serving on the Board of Directors of the Acting Loft, as well as being a parishioner of Saint Marie's Catholic Church, she was committed to making the world, and her local community, a more harmonious and desirable place to live, work and raise a family.

As a wife, mother and grandmother, AKA "Nana," Monica Petersen consistently and graciously put others first, exuded confidence and acted with integrity in everything she did.

An old proverb says, "Success can be defined by how much one is loved." As such, Monica departs this world a very accomplished woman. Her smile, humor, intellect and the sparkle in her eyes will forever be missed by her loving husband, her immediate and extended family and so many close friends living across New Hampshire, in Wisconsin and throughout the nation.

Monica Petersen leaves this world—and all of her loved ones far too prematurely; however, her character will no doubt persevere in all those individuals she touched from birth till death.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Thursday October 18, 2007 at Sacred Heart Church, 223 So. Main St., Manchester.

In lieu of flowers, the family recommends support to the following organizations that were close to Monica's heart; The Soup Kitchen of Manchester, NH, C/O New Horizons for NH, PO Box 691, Manchester, NH 03105, or The Tilton School Endowment Fund, 30 School Street, Tilton, NH 03276.