Mary Donna “Nonna” Petersen

Mary Donna “Nonna” Petersen, age 86, died on Monday, February 5, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah due to the effects of aging. She was born on October 27, 1931 in Torrance, California to Vera Faye and Edward Randolph Baldwin. Donna married her sweet heart, J. Wayne Petersen and was sealed for all eternity in the St. George, Utah LDS temple on June 27, 1953. Donna was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 16 and has been a devoted member her whole life, participating in many roles including Relief Society, Cub Scouts, Ward choir director, and family history librarian. She made an effort to bring fresh flowers from her personal garden to beautify the Relief Society room each Sunday. For many years, Donna worked as a school teacher for kindergarten aged children and touched many lives during that time. She made many friends that became her family and she was a devoted pen pal to them all. Donna was an active participant in the Daughters of the American Revolution, Pointe Vicente chapter. She loved to garden, look after her orchids, and bloom sweet peas every season. She enjoyed spending time at the beach and took her grandkids there often. For many years, Donna and her husband spent the month of July working as volunteers in Yosemite National Park. She travelled the world, her favorite place being Africa where she and Wayne went up in a hot air balloon. She was known by those who loved her most as Nonna. She spent much of her time caring for her grandkids. She loved to take them on trips and participate in their lives. She loved to teach them and keep their bellies full. She hosted Sunday dinner every week for the whole family. Donna lived a full and happy life and touched many lives.
Donna is preceded in death by her sweetheart husband, J. Wayne Petersen, and great grandchild, Oliver W. Petersen. Donna is survived by her three children Melanie Lind (Finney), John Petersen (Kaelene), and Todd Petersen (Jennifer); Grandchildren, Scot Lind (Miriam), Steven Lind (Alvina), Jenny Erwin (Stephen), Chantelle Potter (Chase), Katelin Flook (Ryan), Jenelle Newman (Trent), Cole Petersen (Valerie), David Petersen, and Matthew Petersen as well as 11 great grandchildren. All of these she loved and cared for deeply. Graveside services will be held at Green Hills Cemetery, Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 11:30am. Special thanks to the staff at Alta Ridge Assisted Living in Sandy, Utah, especially her aides Melanie and Sara whom she loved.
Service Information

Graveside Service
February 10, 2018 at 11:30 AM
Green Hills Memorial Park, 27501 S. Western Avenue, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275