Janet L. (VanDusen) Peterson

Janet grew up on the family farm. She was a graduate of Stamford Central High School and the Pratt Institute in New York City, where she received a Commercial Art and Advertising degree in 1946. She worked as an artist in industrial art and commercial advertising in Binghamton, New Jersey and New York City, until she met and married David Royce Peterson on September 4, 1948. Following their wedding, they moved to Potsdam, NY where David began classes for civil engineering at Clarkson College under the GI bill. Janet and David were married for almost 73 years before David’s passing on September 1, 2020.

Janet continued her artistic endeavors throughout her life, taking art classes and volunteering artwork for local organizations and her church. She completed many oil and watercolor paintings, receiving many awards for her artwork; her paintings will be cherished by her family. She did many pen and ink drawings for newspaper articles written by her good friend Beryl Bond, and was also very talented with a needle and thread – making many of her outfits, as well as those of her daughters.

Janet was very active with the community of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Massena. She was a musician who could play piano by ear, had a green thumb for roses and lilies, and loved bird watching. She was especially sensitive to environmental causes and social injustice before it was fashionable, as she could always envision a better world.

During her time in Massena, she was an active member of the former Emmanuel Congregational Church, now known as Emmanuel Congregational United Church of Christ in Massena, where she served as Director of Religious Education for several years.

Survivors include 3 daughters, Jill (Richard) Robinson, of Clay, NY, Karen (Alan “Skip”) Gould, of Forestville, Lisa (Siza Ntshakala) Peterson, of Vienna, VA and 2 sons, Eric (Kathi) Peterson, of Robesonia, PA and Scott (Nancy) Peterson, of Buffalo. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren, four great grandchildren, sister-in-law Beulah “Billie” (William) Stevens, brother-in-law Matthew Blaine and many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents she was predeceased by her husband, stepfather William K. Adair, sister Audrey Sherman, brother-in-law Carl Sherman, stepbrother Leonard Adair and step sister-in-law Virginia Adair.

Services and remembrance will be held in the Spring at the convenience of the family.

Memorial contributions may be made to Emmanuel Congregational United Church of Christ, 39 West Orvis Street, Massena, NY 13662, or plant a tree in her memory.

Arrangements are by Riles & Woolley Funeral Home, Forestville.

To post condolences or memories go to www. rilesandwoolleyfuneralhome.com.