Eleanor Jane Nutting Peterson-Allen, 89, of Plymouth MA passed over February 17, 2015 at home, peaceful and at ease.
Born in Fitchburg MA on October 26, 1925, daughter of Ruth (Childs) and Raymond Nutting, Elle was raised in Fitchburg, where she attended Hosmer Elementary School, and in Groton, where she graduated from Groton High School in 1943 with a gold “G” for academic excellence.
Elle studied Nursing at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital where she met her future husband, Dr. Herbert Gerhard “Pete” Peterson Jr., son of Mary Eleanor (Judge) and Herbert Gerhard Peterson Sr. of Mansfield PA. Elle and Pete were married August 26, 1946 in Fitchburg MA. She began raising their five boys, Gary, Lance, Peter, Erik and Hans, in Walpole MA and then in New Britain CT. While Elle focused on the family Pete received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1948 and subsequently completed his Internship and Residency in Radiology. Elle and Pete moved to Encino CA in 1956 where Pete was Chief Radiologist at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and Assistant Clinical Professor of Radiology at the University of Southern California. The family grew while in California with the addition of three girls, Gretchen, Francie, and Priscilla. Following Pete’s passing on December 5, 1960 at age 37, Elle returned to her roots in MA with her eight children.
Raising eight children as a single parent is a challenge for anyone. Elle excelled at that challenge at 7 Elm St. in Kingston MA. She made sure each child had connection and direction and freedom to pursue their individual interests. She shared and instilled in her children all the things she loved. Favorite family activities included story time and reading aloud. She created many opportunities for each of her children to appreciate art, the theater, and music. Her greatest love was spending time taking walks with her family in the woods, being close to nature and its wonders. She organized mountain hikes, picnics, and sundrenched days at the beach to create joyful family time. In the midst of single parenting Elle found time to Candy Stripe at the Hospital, Pattern special needs children, work as a hospice caregiver, and become a Third Degree Reiki Master.
In 1986 Elle moved to Plymouth Commons where she met Bruce N. Allen. They exchanged Tree of Life engagement rings at Portland Head, a favorite place they enjoyed returning to many times. They were married on February 27, 1993 and spent much of their time visiting Maine and enjoying Cape Cod. Elle and Bruce had a wonderful and joyful time together. Bruce provided a loud and robust counterpoint to Elle’s quiet and thoughtful nature. They shared all their passions with the energy of two younger people. Bruce remodeled their home to have the look and feel of a log cabin in the woods, just to give Elle the environment she could thrive in. Bruce was just what Elle needed after raising eight children.
After Bruce passed over on November 26, 1996, Elle continued her trips to Maine with her sister, Barbara. She returned to gardening, paying special attention to bringing unique, special, and sometimes rare plants, shrubs, and trees into her yard. She recognized a wide spectrum of “green” and made sure the “greens” of her yard flowed seamlessly into their surroundings. Her children recognized Elle’s love of growing things with gifts of Lilies and Lady Slippers, Ginkgo and Dogwood trees, and Flowering Almond and Franklinia shrubs. Each addition was given a special place in her yard and memory. She rejoiced with the colorful blooms of spring, summer, and fall, as well as the warmth of her “Log Cabin” in the winter.
Elle taught her children to give thanks for each day come rain or shine, always being mindful of the needs of others, knowing that in the end our passing is but a metamorphosis and our spirit lives on in the lives we have touched. We live, we love, and we find happiness in the simple things in life. As a Third Degree Reiki Master Elle believed and wished for each of her children:
May we be filled with loving kindness and gratitude
May you be well
May we be peaceful and at ease
May you be happy
She is survived by her sister, Barbara Nutting Fleming of Barnstable MA; her five sons: Gary of Laytonville CA, Lance of Idaho Falls ID, Peter of Seattle WA, Erik of Bondurant WY, and Hans of Kingston MA; her three daughters: Gretchen of Plymouth MA, Francie of Redwood Valley CA, and Priscilla of Plymouth MA; and her 16 Grandchildren, 7 Great Grandchildren, and one Great-Great Grandchild. Elle was also a devoted “Grammy El” to an extended family of Step-Grandchildren and Step-Great-Grandchildren. As a Breast Cancer Survivor, Elle would appreciate that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Breast Cancer Research or the American Heart Association. A private celebration of Elle’s life will be held amid the blooms of spring, her favorite time of year at Kingston, MA