1924 – 2016

FRYEBURG — Hilda H. Peterson, 92, passed away on Thursday, April 21, at the Fryeburg Health & Residential Care Center, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on April 3, 1924 in Waterford, the daughter of Finnish immigrants, Kalle and Liisa Heino. She grew up on Temple Hill Road, the eighth of 12 children. Hilda attended schools in Newry and Waterford. She grew up in a closely knit, proud Finnish family and worked hard from a young age, helping to maintain the family farm and care for her younger siblings.

Hilda married Harold Peterson on Oct. 21, 1950. They resided on his family’s farm in South Bridgton, where they raised their two daughters, Wendy and Wanda. Hilda enjoyed tending to their large vegetable garden, fruit trees and hay fields. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was also an amazing homemaker.

During World War II, Hilda worked as a welder aboard the Liberty Ships in South Portland. Later, she worked as a personal caregiver to many local residents. She completed training to become a certified nursing assistant. She also attended many adult education classes on various topics that interested her including: basketry, chair caning, quilting and stained glass. Hilda was a member of the Finnish-American Heritage Society of Maine.

Her roots were proud and family-centered, and this continued throughout her life. She was always concerned about the wellbeing of others. Hilda devoted many hours helping to care for sick family members and she would not have had it any other way. She was extremely generous in nature and found joy in life by doing for others. She loved to visit with her family and host large family gatherings. She was always the last one to sit down at a meal and insisted on doing all of the cooking. Her homemade pickles and pies were the best. During warmer months, Hilda loved to go berry picking. She spoiled her loved ones by making abundant amounts of jams and jellies.

She always took good care of herself and enjoyed her daily walks. Hilda participated in Mary’s Run in Henniker, N.H. each year. She was a fierce competitor and a medalist. She also raised money to help the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk each year. Later in life, her great-grandchildren made her smile and were the ones to make her beautiful blue eyes sparkle.

Hilda is survived by her daughters, Wendy Almlov and her husband, Glenn, of Bridgton, Wanda Coffin and her husband, Kerry, of Henniker, N.H.; three grandchildren, Alison Almlov Fenton and her husband, Daryl, of Naples, Erik Almlov and his wife, Julie, of Bridgton, and Sue Coffin and her husband, Shaun Leary, of Manchester, N.H.; three great-grandchildren, Connor and Dylan Fenton, and Emily Almlov; sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband; her parents; her brothers, Will, Victor, Carl, Albert and Robert;  her sisters, Louise, Liz, Lina, Celia, Linda and Martha; and her granddaughter, Mary Coffin.

A special thank you to the Fryeburg Health & Residential Care Center for their compassionate care over the last couple of years.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.