Vanessa Olga (Byrd) (Santana) Peterson
LOWELL A time to be born: Vanessa Olga (Byrd) (Santana) Peterson was born on April 25, 1960 in West Chester, PA to the late Charles Byrd, Sr. and the late Shirley Ann (Hood) (Byrd) Boone.
A time to educate: While her mother, father and siblings lived in Lawrence, MA, Vanessa attended Holy Rosary Catholic Elementary School. Her family relocated to Wilmington, MA and she attended North Intermediate Junior High and Wilmington High Schools.
A time to work: Mrs. Peterson worked for the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA for more than ten years. When she wasn’t working inside the hospital, she could be found being a caregiver for her mother, stepfather, and her brother outside of the hospital. She was the ultimate caregiver and would help anyone, especially the elderly.
A time to be reborn: At an early age, Vanessa was brought up Catholic, but when she could make the decision for herself, she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and united with St. John’s Baptist Church in Woburn, MA where she sang with the Adult Choir and directed the Cherubs. She attended St. John’s for most of her adult life until she moved to New Castle, DE in 2010. While there, she united with the Canaan Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Christopher Allan Bullock. She also sang on the Sanctuary Choir at Canaan.
A time to live: Vanessa loved to have fun. She enjoyed cooking for her family and friends and she couldn’t be told that she wasn’t a singer. Her favorite karaoke song was ‘The Greatest Love of All.” Most recently, she added two grandchildren to her life and was she ever grateful for that.
A time to die: Vanessa made her transition with a smile on her face at 1:00 a.m. on March 13, 2015 at Lowell General Hospital. She leaves to cherish fond memories her husband, Kevin Peterson; a son, Ariq Santana; a daughter, Camille Santana; two stepdaughters, Katrina Peterson and Tanalisa Pigatt; a sister, Shirley Ann Byrd Moore; four stepsisters, Shelly Santana, Kathy Ann Boone, Carol Boone, and Lisa Boone; two brothers, Marty and Charles Byrd, Jr.; a stepbrother, Dana Boone; her stepfather, Nathaniel Boone; and three grandchildren, Anastasia Santana, Mercy Reyes, and Sharon McMahon. She was also predeceased by her parents and a brother, Nicholas Hardwood Byrd.
Sorrowfully submitted, The family.
YOU ARE INVITED TO HER CALLING HOURS FROM 10 UNTIL 11 A.M. AT ST. JOHN’S BAPTIST CHURCH, 40 EVERETT STREET IN WOBURN, MA. DIRECTLY FOLLOWING THE CALLING HOURS, HER FUNERAL SERVICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT 11 A.M. IN THE CHURCH. A PROCESSION WILL FOLLOW TO WILDWOOD CEMETERY, 233 MIDDLESEX AVE., WILMINGTON, MA.
