Search by Name

Search by Name

Betsy Ervin Petersen

1942 - 2019

Betsy Ervin Petersen obituary, 1942-2019, New Orleans, LA

BORN

1942

DIED

2019

FUNERAL HOME

Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries

5100 Pontchartrain Blvd.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Betsy Petersen Obituary

Betsy Ervin Petersen was born in San Francisco in 1942. She graduated from Burlingame High School in 1959 and cum laude from Harvard University in 1963, where she met Jim Petersen, her husband of 54 years. She worked as a reporter for the Boston Globe and later, after moving to New Orleans, as a features writer for The Times-Picayune. She left reporting to raise her sons, William and Tom, but continued writing, publishing a memoir, Dancing With Daddy, in 1991. While her children were young, she discovered a natural talent for teaching that would shape the rest of her life. In 1990, she began teaching English at Metairie Park Country Day School while earning a master's degree at UNO. Over the next 29 years, she became a vital part of the community, serving as chair of the English department, and inspiring countless students and colleagues. Betsy's enthusiasm, humor, and genuine passion for ideas made it easy to get excited about whatever she taught, from literature to writing to art history. She found her students and colleagues equally inspiring and continued learning from them right up to her very last days. Betsy loved to read; at any given time, there were six or seven open books around the house that she was in the middle of. She read everything: literature, history, poetry, and especially young adult novels; and her frequent trips to the public library earned her a seat on their advisory board. She had a deep moral sense and confronted injustice with determined frankness. She was impatient with the status quo, skeptical of authority, and she didn't mind ruffling feathers. She had a profound belief in the transformative power of ideas, and above all, that learning could be joyous and freeing. She was fiercely loyal to her family and lovingly remembered their camping trips and Halloween costumes and school plays and reading them to sleep. Betsy faced the end of her life with the same frankness with which she lived the rest of it, comfortable in the not-knowing. Betsy passed away at home on Sunday, with her family and her favorite books around her. She is survived by her husband Jim, her sons William and Tom, her sister-in-law, Weese Petersen, her nieces and nephews, and her Country Day family. She will be dearly missed. A memorial service followed by a potluck dinner will be held on Friday, October 4th, at 5:30 p.m. on the Founder's Terrace at Metairie Park Country Day School, 300 Park Rd, Metairie, LA 70005. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Metairie Park Country Day School, The Betsy Petersen Scholar Fund, at the above address, to continue Betsy's legacy of excellence in teaching.

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

Published by The Times-Picayune from Sep. 24 to Oct. 4, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Betsy Petersen

Sponsored by Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries.

Not sure what to say?





5 Entries

October 7, 2019

I am stunned. Betsy was a fabulous writer, truly original. I admired her work so much. She was great company, too. My thoughts and prayers with Betsy, Jimmy, and Tom and William. Charlotte Hays

October 1, 2019

My condolences to the family on the loss of your loved one. May the God of all comfort be with you during your time of sorrow. (Psalm 145:19)

Geraldine and Michael &family Dooley

September 30, 2019

Tom and all the Petersen family Just to offer our deepest sympathy to all of you at this time .

Ann Eisen

September 27, 2019

Jimmy
So sorry to hear of your loss. Thinking of you and the
family
Ann Friedler Eisen

David Cuthbert

September 26, 2019

I remember Betsy Petersen not only as a superb writer for The Times-Picayune and Dixie Roto Magazine, but as an unfailingly bright presence that made the Newsroom a brighter, warmer environment. Some people light up a space with their presence and smile. She is a woman whose glow lives on.

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 results

Make a Donation
in Betsy Petersen's name

Memorial Events
for Betsy Petersen

Oct

4

Memorial service

5:30 p.m.

Founder's Terrace at Metairie Park Country Day School

300 Park Rd, Metairie, LA 70124

Funeral services provided by:

Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries

5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124

How to support Betsy's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Betsy Petersen's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more