Obituary of Sister Rita Peterson

Sister Rita Peterson (formerly Sr. Mary Martin), a sister of St. Mary of Namur, who dedicated her life to the teaching of reading, passed away at Absolut of Gasport under the care of hospice. She was 85. Born in Buffalo, November 22, 1928, the daughter of the late Martin J. and Helen T. (Murphy) Peterson she entered the convent in 1946 after her graduation from Annunciation High School. Very early it was clear that she was skilled in teaching little children, and her first assignments entailed teaching in the primary grades in Kenmore, Binghamton, and Lockport. Eventually Sister Rita moved into training children exclusively in reading. This particular talent of hers was well used in Kingstree, South Carolina and in the public school system of Macon, Georgia. Later, she widened her field and worked with students at Villa Maria College, Niagara University, and as an adjunct professor for over twenty years at Niagara County Community College where she was known for creatively tailoring her courses to the needs of her individual students. After she retired, her determination and conscientious efforts for her students led her to start teaching refugees who lived near her residence at Annunciation Convent on Buffalo&amp;#39;s West Side. Over the last five years, as a number of her Sisters of St. Mary from Rwanda came to spend time in Buffalo, she mentored them in the development of their English skills. Sister Rita had a B.Ed. from Rosary Hill and an M.EI.Ed. from SUNYAB. She used them well to serve those who needed her help in reading. She was indeed faithful to tile talent God gave her. Sister Rita was pre-deceased by her brothers and sisters; Charles (Rita) Peterson, Florence (Walter) Smith, Eleanor (William) O'Keefe, Howard (Jean) Peterson, Elizabeth (Fred) Mohler, Margaret (William Lannen &amp; Norman Steinagle) William Peterson and Dorothy Griffin. She is survived by Sister-in law Colleen Peterson, brother-in-law Howard Griffin, many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews and her religious community, the Sisters of St Mary of Namur. Relatives and friends may call Monday 3 to 8 PM April 28, 2014 in Prudden and Kandt Funeral Home, 242 Genesee St. Lockport, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday April 29, 2014 at 9:30 in All Saints Parish Oratory, 391 Market Street, Lockport, NY. Memorials to Sisters of St. Mary, 245 Lafayette Ave., Buffalo, NY 14213 would be greatly appreciated. <h3>Visitation</h3> Relatives and friends may call Monday 3 to 8 PM April 28, 2014. <h3>Services</h3> A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday April 29, 2014 at 9:30 in All Saints Parish Oratory, 391 Market Street, Lockport, NY.