FRONT ROYAL, VA: Mrs. Della M. (Drost) Peterson, 94, formerly of Gloucester, died Thursday, March 3, 2011 at her daughter’s residence in Front Royal, Virginia. She was the wife of the late Lawrence O. Peterson, who died in February of 1986.
Born in Island Falls, Maine on August 1, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Arnold and Carrie (Fletcher) Drost. She had been a resident of Maine until the family moved to Gloucester in 1965 and has resided in Virginia since 1988.
From 1971 to 1988, Della worked with her husband as the ship keeper for the missionary schooner, Coronet; the last surviving 19th century Grand Yacht. She hosted visitors from six continents and managed the provisions for many cruises with youth ministries. In this capacity, she was an active supporter of the Kingdom Christian Ministries of Dublin, NH.
She was known to be a courageous woman of strong faith. Her greatest joy came from being with her family. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her children, Ivena “Ivy” Panacopoulos of Maryland, Sheldon “Pete”, and his wife Charlene (Powers) Peterson of Gloucester, Ginger Holland of Virginia, and Wendell, husband of Beryl (Murray) Peterson of Magnolia; five grandchildren, Jennifer Denmark, James Panacopoulos, Barry Peterson, Cory Peterson, and Jason Holland; eight great-grandchildren and her sister, Halene Price of Campbell Settlement, NB. She was also predeceased by two sons, Perry and Nelson Peterson and her daughter-in-law, Dianne Peterson.
Her funeral service will be held on Monday afternoon in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester at 2 p.m. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1 - 2 p.m. Interment will be held privately in the Shiloh Cemetery, Durham, Maine.