Obituary of Elizabeth Rita ( Petersen

Elizabeth Rita ("Betty") Petersen, age 88, of Pittstown, NJ passed away Saturday, January 25, 2014 surrounded by her family at Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township, NJ. The daughter of the late Louis and Pauline (nee DeBella) Dondero, Betty was born May 21, 1925 in Brooklyn, NY. Betty and her husband William ("Bill") Petersen lived in Monroe, NY for 50 years where they raised their family before moving to Pittstown, NJ over a year ago. In her earlier years, Betty was an executive secretary for Seagram Company in New York City. She was an avid reader, liked to travel and enjoyed cooking and shopping. Most importantly, she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. Betty is survived by her husband Bill of 54 years; her children: William Petersen and wife Geraldine of Monroe, NY; Janet Geiler and husband Craig of Pittstown, NJ; Pauline Scofield and husband Gary of New Milford, CT; her grandchildren: William, Maureen and Stephen Petersen; Jason and wife Kelli, Keith, Kristin and Billy Schmolze; and Victoria Scofield; her great grandchildren, Jason and Ryan Schmolze; her sister, Helen Dondero; her niece Nancy (nee Trager) Menendez; her nephew John Trager and wife Janet; her great nephews Justin Menendez; Jesse and Jacob Trager; her great niece Michelle Batty and her husband Chris; and her great great nephews and nieces. In addition to her parents, she was pre-deceased by her sister and brother-in-law Rose and Charles Trager; her nephews Charles and Andrew Trager; and her son-in-law, William Schmolze. Betty's Life Celebration includes a visitation on Tuesday, January 28th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Martin Funeral Home, 1761 Route 31,Clinton,NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Wednesday, January 29th at Immaculate Conception RC Church, 316 Old Allerton Road, Annandale, NJ. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Clinton, NJ. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Betty's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105