Obituary of Justine Peterson

CHESHIRE- Justine Hassett Peterson of Cheshire Conn., a master gardener and former president of the Nauset Garden Club on Cape Cod, died Friday at 84. Born in New Haven, she was the daughter of Justin and Kathryn (Cleary) Hassett and was the wife of Roger Peterson of Cheshire for the past 62 years. Mrs. Peterson attended the University of Connecticut and Southern Connecticut State University and obtained her master gardener certificate from the University of Connecticut Extension Master Gardener Program. Mrs. Peterson's passion for horticulture was evidenced by the beautiful gardens at her homes in Cheshire and in Brewster on Cape Cod. She won several blue ribbons for flower arranging at the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show in Hartford and was the head gardener at the Yankee Silversmith Inn in Wallingford. While living on Cape Cod she was a founder of the Nauset Garden Club and for a time ran a consulting company called The Garden Lady. In addition to her green thumb, Mrs. Peterson was an avid swimmer and enjoyed photography, travel and spending time with family and friends. She was also an avid reader, and volunteered at Brewster Ladies Library, and Host Family of Yale University International Students. Mrs. Peterson is survived by her husband, Roger, her children David, Alan, Linda and Joan; her grandchildren Garran and Chris Peterson, Avery and Alison Moore, Caitlin and Abigail Peterson, Lillian and Claire Mensah; her brother, Richard Hasset, her daughters-in-law Nancy Garran and Gayle Fee; her sons-in-law Abed Mensah and Lawrence Moore; and many nieces and nephews. She was the mother of the late Glen Peterson and Mark Peterson and sister of the late Lawrence Hassett. Arrangements-A Memorial Service will be held at Alderson Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 South Main Street, Cheshire at 2 p.m. on Wednesday July 11, 2012. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. Memorial donations can be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 600 Sheppard Avenue, Hamden, 06514 or the Elim Park Foundation, 140 Cook Hill Road, Cheshire, 06410.