Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Lakemont Memorial Gardens

Beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, Nana, and friend, Karen H Peterson of Riva, Maryland and Lewes, Delaware passed away peacefully on January 24, 2021, at age 68, after a long and hard battle with cancer. Karen loved her family and friends fiercely, and was fiercely loved in return.

She was born on Long Island, New York to Eugene and Joan Heissenbuttel and had four younger brothers Paul, Jimmy, Mark, and David. She attended Our Lady of Victory in Floral Park and Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset, New York. She received a B.A. and an M.A. in education from the College of Notre Dame in Baltimore, Maryland. There, she met the love of her life, her husband, Jack Peterson. A lifelong educator who was beloved by her students, Karen taught elementary, nursery and special education. She received a certification in gifted and talented education from Johns Hopkins University. She retired in 2019 from Anne Arundel County Public Schools where she worked as a gifted and talented resource teacher.

Karen was a remarkable and beloved mother to her three daughters, Kristen Peterson-Athanitis of Annapolis, Laura Fayer of Davidsonville, and Maggie Peterson of Baltimore. She was blessed with two sons-in-law Christos Athanitis and Jason Fayer. She adored her grandchildren, Loukas, Niko, and Katerina Athanitis, and Julia and Owen Fayer who kept her smiling and gave her the biggest reason to fight throughout her battle with cancer.

Karen enjoyed traveling, reading, decorating, and interior design. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and a local book club. Those who were fortunate to spend time with her knew her to have a powerful presence. She was genuine, generous, wise, loving, and strong.

She is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, father, stepmother Ruby, an uncle, brothers, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews — all of whom are heartbroken over her loss, but relieved she is at peace, and with her mother, Joan. Her immediate family is extremely grateful for the incredible support from the family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors who loved Karen. She will live on in the many wonderful memories of all the lives she touched.

A celebration of life will be planned for this summer. Services for Karen will be limited to invited family members due to the pandemic, and will be livestreamed on the Holy Family Davidsonville church website (https://www.holyfamilychurch.com/live-stream.html) on Saturday, January 30 at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Karen’s memory can be made to the Wellness House in Annapolis (410-990-0941) and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

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Karen H. Peterson

Karen H. Peterson

Karen Peterson Services

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