Shirley Lillian (Gustafson) Peterson

PEABODY - Shirley Lillian (Gustafson) Peterson, age 96, of Peabody, MA, passed away on December 5, 2024. She was born and raised in Worcester, MA, and was a long-time resident of Beverly Farms, MA. Shirley was the devoted wife of Raymond Louis Peterson for 66 years, who predeceased her on March 29, 2020. 

Shirley attended Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and then worked in banking in Worcester, MA. After marriage, in addition to raising her family, she worked in the collections department at Sears in Peabody and then at His Bookstore in Beverly.

Shirley was devoted to her family and her primary focus throughout the years was as a wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. She loved to cook and bake family dinners as well as an impressive array of Christmas cookies.  Shirley was a talented seamstress who made wonderful dresses and coats for her daughters for both everyday and special occasions, and subsequently started quilting.  

Fortunately, she learned to drive before starting her family because she spent many years driving carpool to and from school and activities. She later also helped provide childcare for several of her grandchildren.  

Shirley loved to entertain and welcomed guests to her home regularly. Whether it was family, friends or visiting missionaries, the door was always open.  

Shirley was a person of faith who was very involved in church activities as well as Gordon-Conwell Seminary Women’s Council. She was a long-time member of North Shore Community Baptist Church and later joined the First Congregational Church of Hamilton.   

Annual summer vacation camping trips to Maine, New Hampshire, Cape Cod and Canada created special family memories. Shirley also took memorable trips with her husband to Europe, Israel and Scandinavia.  

She enjoyed attending church, school and sporting events throughout the years. A lifelong Red Sox fan, she faithfully watched their games and was thrilled with each of the World Series Championship wins in recent years.    

Shirley is survived by her brother, Norman Gustafson of Shrewsbury, along with her three daughters and their husbands: Martha and Steve Heassler of Gloucester, MA; Norma and Byron McCluskey of Sarasota, FL; Carol and Mark Bedrosian of Gloucester, MA. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Kathryn and Paige Heassler, Frederick and Theodore McCluskey, and Josiah and Boaz Bedrosian.  She is predeceased by her husband, Raymond, as well as her parents John and Lillian Gustafson.

Memorial service will be held Saturday, January 11, 2025 in the First Congregational Church of Hamilton, 630 Bay Road, South Hamilton, MA at 12:00 PM. Donations may be given in her memory to the First Congregational Church of Hamilton Missions Program at www.fcchamilton.org/give. Arrangements by Driscoll Funeral Home, Haverhill. For guestbook, please visit www.driscollcares.com

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