Greenfield, Patricia Jean Peters age 87, died on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at Charlene Manor in Greenfield, with family by her side.

She was born on December 29, 1929 in Buffalo, NY, to Mildred and John D Martin. Patty Jean (Martin) Peters grew up on Kinsey Avenue in Kenmore, NY where she completed her childhood education, graduating in the top ten of her class at Kenmore High School.

She then went on to obtain her diploma in nursing from the Massachusetts General Hospital, School of Nursing in Boston. In the 1970s, nursing was evolving and Pat helped develop the curriculum for the Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Massachusetts, and received one of the first certifications offered in the State of Massachusetts. She lectured extensively on the topic of mononucleosis.

She met her husband, William R. Peters, while both were attending nursing school, and were married the day after completing their training. They had four children, Robert Peters, Deborah Jacque, Brenda Peters, and Pamela McLean. Pat and her husband chose to raise their family in Amherst, a thriving academic community. The family became members of the Grace Episcopal Church, where they were actively involved in Parish life.

After their kids left home, Pat and her husband pursued their life long dream of moving to Florida, and spending their summers in Nova Scotia, Canada. They enjoyed walking on Clearwater beach at sunset, and continued their lay ministry work at St John’s Episcopal Church in Clearwater. They returned every summer to Medford Beach, Nova Scotia, which they referred to as “God’s Country”, and were active members of St James Episcopal Church in Kentville.

Pat spent the last three years of her life living at Windfield Estates for the elderly in Hadley, Massachusetts. She thoroughly enjoyed the lively community at Windfield, where she met many new friends. Pat also returned to Grace Episcopal Church where she found strength to complete her spiritual journey.

She was widowed in 2003, and is survived by Robert Peters and his son, Ben; Deborah  Jacque and her husband, Ronald, their daughter Anette, and her husband Ken Millington, and their son, Navarro, and their son Berri Jacque, and his wife, Asha Strazerro-Wild, and their son, Henry; and her daughter, Brenda Peters, her son Derek Robinson, his wife, Shannon, and son, Davis, daughter, Heather Robinson, her son Tayveon, and daughter, Takayla, and daughter, Becki Robinson; and her daughter Pamela McLean, and her husband Peter; Grand dogs Baxter, Zoe, Emma, Maple, and Arrow; sister, Mary Jennings, sister-in-law, Barbara Legros, and cousins: Martin and NancyJones, Ward and Mimi Jones, Ann and Lee Carlson, Margaret and Gary Hartzler, Judy Thomas, and Harry Thomas.

A church service will be held on Friday, September 1, 2017, at 11:00 am at Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst, followed by light refreshments in the parish hall. Suggested donations include Grace Episcopal Church, Charlene Manor, Greenfield, MA, and Hospice of Berkshire County.