Rebecca Ann Petersen

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of a truly remarkable woman, Rebecca Ann Allbritton Petersen, of Kent, WA on September 25, 2023, at the age of 84. Rebecca lived a life full of love, adventure, and cherished moments. Rebecca fought off breast cancer and colon cancer before ultimately losing the battle to a second round of breast cancer that metastasized and was too much for her weakened heart and lungs. Mom was a strong survivor who loved and fought for her family to the end.

Rebecca was born on January 9, 1939, in Arkadelphia, Alabama on her grandfather’s farm where she grew up before moving to Birmingham, Alabama, Charleston, S. C. and then to North Charleston, S. C. where her family opened an O.K. Tires, Inc.

Rebecca took voice lessons from age 12 through high school at the Vernon Weston School of Music. By 10th grade she was involved in school musicals. She also sang in the church choir and was the student director of the glee club her senior year in high school. During her senior year, Rebecca was also in the Ms. Charleston beauty pageant and was the 2nd runner up. She graduated from North Charleston High School in 1957 and attended summer school at the Citadel. She was studying voice and was a member of the Charleston Choral Society.

Rebecca began a life of adventure when she married her loving husband, Sigmund R. Petersen, in 1963. Sigmund was a NOAA Corps Officer, a career shared with Rebecca’s brother Richard, that had them living and travelling all over the United States including Hawaii and Alaska, England, and many other countries. Together they raised a beautiful family. Their union was an amazing journey of shared dreams, laughter, travel, adventure, fun, and enduring love. Rebecca lovingly cared for each community that she was planted in and was a compassionate and caring mother figure to all her family’s friends.

Rebecca was also actively involved in churches wherever she and Sig were assigned including, Church of England, Community of Celebration, Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, in Bellevue, WA, St. James Episcopal Church in Potomac, MD, and Prince of Peace Episcopal Church in Woodland Hills, CA. She was involved in the church choirs, Sunday School, church pageants, plays, bible study, counseling, and just about every activity a lay person could get involved in. She expertly shepherded her children through school, sports, band, plays, scouts, Civil Air Patrol, extracurricular activities, camping, and just plain having fun. We could not have asked for a more loving and fun mother.

Throughout Rebecca’s life, family has been her #1 priority! She played the roles of a dedicated wife, a nurturing mother, a loving grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her family circle was completed when she was reunited with her eldest daughter 60 years after she was placed for adoption. She cared for her mother, Sig’s father, and Sig’s mother as each struggled with health challenges at their end of lives.

Rebecca was also a lover of life's simple pleasures: the scent of fresh flowers, the laughter of children, and the pleasure of having her family and pets around her. She was an endless source of wisdom and support, always ready with a comforting word or a heartfelt gesture. Rebecca was a beacon of love, strength, and grace.

Rebecca is survived by her loving husband of almost 60 years, Sig Petersen, who was her rock, her confidante, and her lifelong companion. She also leaves behind her cherished children, Clare Dreyer, Steven Petersen, Sharon Parker and Karen Petersen.

Rebecca was also the proud grandmother of Ava Petersen, and Forrest and Alex Underwood. She was overjoyed to be the great-grandmother of Reagan and Genevieve Underwood.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her mother, Sarah Marlowe Allbritton Carlise and father, Hoyt G. Allbrittion, her brothers, Richard H. Allbrittion, Charles. E. Allbrittion and sister, Sarah Jane Gibson.

Though Rebecca has left our physical world, her spirit, love, and strength remain alive in all who had the privilege to know her. As we remember her, we are reminded of the love she spread, and the joy she brought. Rest in serenity, dear Rebecca. Your legacy will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of all who loved you.

One of the family’s most fun and enduring memories of Rebecca is in Washington D.C. on The Mall on 4th of July when she blew bubbles standing on a park bench in a Hawaiian muumuu surrounded by hordes of laughing children and a TV crew (to the mortification of her then teenage daughters). We were all so proud of her when she earned her Associate Degree in Mental Health from Montgomery College in MD the same year her youngest daughter graduated High School. Her compassionate nature had her volunteering with Hospice as her children grew up and moved out on their own.

The family would like to thank Evergreen Hospice and Brightstar Care for the care and compassion they showed our loved one in her final days. Hospice is such a gift of loving care to those passing on and their families, a gift of compassionate comfort that makes the end of life so much easier to navigate with dignity.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at Rebecca’s home 26619 137th Ave SE Kent WA 98042 on October 8, 2023. Sharing of Rebecca stories with the family will begin at 2 pm PDT, please arrive prior to that time. Bring a folding chair if you have one and a little food to share if you can. A Zoom session will be attempted for those who would like to tune in from afar. Contact Rebecca’s daughter Karen Petersen at [email protected] if you are interested in the zoom link.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Rebecca’s honor to Community of Celebration, https://www.communityofcelebration.com or Susan G. Komen Organization for fighting breast cancer, https://www.komen.org/breast-cancer/.