Suzanne Petersen

Suzanne Petersen was born Suzanne Schriever in Bountiful, Utah on May 17, 1950 to LaVerl L. Schriever and Margaret Pearl Schofield as the youngest of four children. She passed away peacefully after a long series of illnesses and trials on April 28, 2007. She is survived by her husband Gene R. Petersen, daughter Jeanette Chartrand and grandson Ethan Chartrand of Arvada, Colorado; daughter Megan Hall and husband Spencer Hall and grandchildren Thomas, Katherine, and Daniel Hall of Pasadena, California; and her brother Jerrold Schriever of Sandy, Utah. She was preceded in death by both of her parents and brothers Richard and Robert Schriever. Suzanne attended school in Bountiful, Utah and graduated from Bountiful High in 1968 and enjoyed having her mother as her first-grade teacher. She completed her studies in Speech Therapy/Pathology at Brigham Young University in three years and one hectic summer including a final math class tutored by her brother Jerry in 1971. She completed a Masters degree in Learning Disabilities at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in 1972. She was married to Gene R. Petersen in the Salt Lake City Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah on June 21, 1972 and celebrated her first wedding anniversary in the delivery room where her first daughter was born the next day. Children were an important part of her life, either professionally or with her own children and grandchildren. She opened her home to foster children, particularly ones with emotional and mental difficulties. She loved to serve in church with primary aged children. When her husband had health problems she returned to school, obtained a teaching certificate in California, and taught as a substitute teacher in Pomona. Attending and serving in the temples of the church were among her greatest pleasures. She supported her husband faithfully as he served in the church. She loved the mountain states, and when a job offer for her husband came from Colorado, she was all too happy to support him in that move. Over twelve years ago, Suzanne had the opportunity to be a test case for a double organ transplant of a kidney and pancreas. She bravely undertook this in spite of the risks of knowing that two of her brothers had not had great success with transplants. It was a great blessing in her life and she never forgot the individual who willingly gave her an extra 12 years of life. She was a woman resolutely faithful to her faith and beliefs. She rarely, if ever, lost her temper. She was a peacemaker and an inspiration to many for the perseverance she showed throughout her life. She was a good and faithful servant of her Heavenly Father.