Marie Petersen Obituary

Marie Petersen

Rumson - Marie Petersen, 99, passed away peacefully in her Rumson, New Jersey home on Friday August 14, 2020. Marie's extraordinary life spanned 3 continents and 2 centuries. Born in Australia to Dutch parents, then raised in England, Marie started her adult life in New York studying classical voice at The Juilliard School. Marie then met Raymond Charles Petersen and after a courtship under the bright lights of New York City, they married happily in 1940. Marie and Raymond retired to Rumson in 1980, after starting then selling a manufacturing business, and raising their two sons Eric and John in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Marie will be remembered by the many who loved her as generous by nature, kind in spirit, charming in her ways, and always truly caring of others. She was deeply involved in the lives of many other people. Marie opened her home to those she cared for, and her house usually had guests ranging from extended family to exchange students who later became close family friends. After WW II, Marie hosted Karl, a displaced person from Estonia. Beloved by the whole family, he died during his stay from his treatment in a prisoner of war camp.

Marie's interest in other people extended to the wider world, and she traveled extensively. Always curious about other cultures, she read voraciously, was a close follower of current events, and she cultivated a refined Asian art collection. In her later years, Marie was happiest in her home, where she was surrounded by those who loved her. In her last years, and particularly during the pandemic, she was cared for by Christine Donofrio, Nina Khaburzania, Kerry Ospermiller. and Steve Schulz.

Marie was predeceased by her husband Raymond, her sons Eric and John, and her sister Anne Alessandroni.

Marie is survived by her brother John van Dugteren (Evelyn) of Wanaque, New Jersey; her daughter-in-law Ellen Petersen of Stanfordville, New York; her grandchildren Max Petersen (Radhika Jones) of Brooklyn, New York, and Richard Petersen (Caroline) of Mill Valley, California; and her great-grandchildren Ethan, Larkin, Toby and Finn; as well as many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memoriam to Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, P.O. Box 598, Boylston, MA, 01505-0598.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Asbury Park Press from Aug. 19 to Aug. 20, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Marie Petersen

5 Entries

Eileen and Alan Wang and He

September 3, 2020

" When the sun sets it shines on the mulberry and elm towards the evening, but its afterglow fills the sky with red." It describes a person who is able to live a wonderful life even though he has reached an old age like the afterglow of sunset. We asked a calligrapher in Beijing to create a calligraphy scroll forour fiend Marie Petersen. This is the quotation from a famous Chinese poem written by the poet Liu Yuxi from the Tang Dynasty.Our beloved Marie Petersen is always an excellent example for young people to learn from. She will live forever in our hearts!

Eileen Wang, Alan He

August 29, 2020

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have been paying close attention to the situation of our good friends in the United States. One day morning, I opened the mailbox and saw a message from my friend Frank Arlinghaus. Our most respected, beloved and concerned Marie Peterson passed away. Marie Peterson, the oldest of our friends. We know her ten years ago, she was nearly 90 years old, her calm, elegant, confident, tolerance and wisdom remind us deep down that across the ocean, in the town of Rumson, New Jersey, we have a good friend, Marie Peterson, whom has a worthy of our respect and learning. She commands our respect because she is a cross-century woman who has experienced the world war, the Great Depression and countless joys and sorrows of life, but she always brings us love and positivity. What makes her worth learning is her orderly and disciplined lifestyle and helpful demeanor. Marie Peterson's life is wonderful, and that wonderful life is the result of her optimistic and kindness attitude. As the founding President of your country, Mr. Washington, said, all the harmony and balance, health and fitness, success and happiness, are produced by the upward psychology of optimism and hope and cause.
You will be missed, Marie Peterson.
Love,
EIleen Wang, Alan He from China

Lyndsey He

August 29, 2020

I remember that I met Marie Peterson through my parents' friends Frank Arlinghaus and Alix Ann Arlinghaus in 2011. I went to Marie's house on spring break while I was in college, and the first thing I saw about her was that she was so gracious and elegant. Her home is as neat and graceful as hers. She likes white orchids best. Her home is full of white orchids. I am very grateful to Marie for hosting me that year to stay at her house for my college spring break. I'll never forget it. I have lived with her for three days. Every day of her life is so graceful that I am deeply influenced by her. In the morning, she would get up to exercise and eat breakfast. During the day, she would sit in her TV room, reading and listening to the news. Whenever you talk to her, she is always happy, humorous and intelligent. I remember when she was 90 years old and when I first went to Rumson, she drove me around and talked a lot about the history of Rumson in order to let me know about it. When we go out for dinner, she would always dress up in a very delicate and noble way. No matter who talks to her, people wouldn’t think she is 90 years old. She is what I want to look like when I grow old. She has a wonderful family. Every time I see her, she always show me the pictures that the family have sent her recently, grandchildren and lovely great grandchildren. Her son would call her every day to ask after her. She had a wonderful life.
Marie Peterson, Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness. You will always be remembered.
Love,
Lyndsey He from China

Cynthia Wilby

August 22, 2020

Marie was a wonderful person and I am sad she is gone. We lived next door to her in Rumson — our yards backed up to each other. She and I started the “ pond committee “ in our neighborhood. We got the surrounding houses on the pond to build a brick wall to help preserve the pond. She would have me over for tea about 3 times a year and we would have wonderful talks. I wish I could have read all of these interesting things about her before she died. We would have had a lot more to talk about.....
Cynthia Wilby

Mara Browndorf

August 20, 2020

Marie was a neighbor of mine in Rumson, NJ and I just heard of her passing. I always admired Marie's love of her husband, children and grandchildren and enjoyed her stories about them and her life with Raymond. I'm so sorry I didn't see Marie during the past couple of months and I will remember our good times together in her house and how we both admired her gardens. I will contribute to the Botanic Garden since we both loved gardening and our flowers. I will miss dear Marie and wish that all who are close relatives remember the gardens, her love for life and her special love for you. Sending my love and condolences. I will miss Marie, a matriarch, sweet, intelligent soul and will gladly see her one day!

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