Loretta May Peterson, age 85, passed away peacefully on Monday February 17, 2025.  Loretta was born in Jackson, Missouri on August 22, 1939, to Carl and Bernice Schaper.  The oldest of seven children, she was predeceased by her sisters Judy, Ellen, Mary Kathleen, and her brother Carl.  She is survived by two brothers, Tom and Jeff, her two daughters Jenny and Kirsten, their husbands Andrew and Chris, and her grandchildren, Alice, Nathan, and Noah.

Lori attended the University of Missouri before spending time in Chicago and eventually relocating to Delaware. She spent the entire career in healthcare, starting as a teenage aid and ultimately working her way up to a Medical Technologist. She became a Manager of that unit and eventually oversaw the startup of the Helen Graham Lab and Phlebotomy services at Christiana Hospital.  In this role, she helped establish the lab and hired a dedicated team who was a key part in assisting medical professionals and physician groups to identify infections and monitor patient’s health and progress.

Loretta was an active member of the Lutheran Church where her faith and beliefs were the foundation of her moral code of kindness and deep caring. She served in multiple capacities that demonstrated her love and devotion to the community.  Her passion for bringing love and caring included Sunday School teacher, active participant in choir, a lector, council member and Stephens minister.  She made it her mission to provide care and emotional and spiritual support for those going through difficult times in life.

She raised two daughters and drew great joy in spending time with her grandchildren, showing her unconditional love by actively spending time with them and always looking for opportunities to encourage them.

The simplest pleasures in life brought great joy to her. She was a passionate reader and gardener who loved to travel and learn about other cultures and traditions.  She will be missed in so many ways and we will always carry her memories with us in our hearts forever.  Her spirit will live on in the love we share.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, February 28, 2025, at 11:00 AM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 701 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19713. Family and friends are welcome to begin gathering at 10:00 AM. Inurnment will follow in the church memorial garden. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to ELCA.org/good gifts.