Helen Peterson

Helen Peterson, 95, of Lewisburg, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2026. Her beautiful life began on December 22, 1930 in Carteret, NJ. She was the second oldest of the nine children of Michael and Anna (Bazaral) Serdinsky. When she was very young the family moved to Woodbridge, NJ, where she met the love of her life, Bernard J. Peterson.

Helen and Bernie, high school sweethearts, married on May 24, 1952 and remained together and in love until he passed away in 2013. Together they raised five children.

While Helen worked from home, usually in administrative assistant positions, she primarily thought of herself as a wife and mother. She and Bernie were avid dancers, often found cheek to cheek in their kitchen. They even learned how to disco dance at the height of the 1970s disco craze. They loved to travel together, taking weeks-long cross country road trips or putting the kids or grandkids in the car for a spontaneous weekend in Point Pleasant, NJ. On her own time, Helen was an avid reader with a particular taste for Jane Austen novels and historical fiction. She enjoyed gardening, knitting, and embroidering. She loved films and music, cozy British mysteries in books or on TV, and modern comedies like The Big Bang Theory. Helen remained in New Jersey most of her life, first in Woodbridge and then in Manchester Township, before coming to Lewisburg during the start of the COVID pandemic to live with one daughter and be closer to another. During this time she rediscovered her passion for cooking, and was also a fan of a happy hour margarita.

Helen is survived by a large and loving family, starting with son Bernie (Jr.) and his wife Carol and their children, son Michael and wife Heather Peterson, and daughter Nicole and husband John DeMerchant; son Chris and his wife Debbie and their daughter, Jackie and husband Paul Golden with children Lanah and Wesley; daughter Jean; daughter Terri and husband George Potor, and daughter-in-law Amber and children, Oriana and Drayson. She is also survived by two sisters, Eleanor Fratterolo and Alice Hilliard, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Michael and Anna, her husband Bernie, her son Gary, granddaughter Jennifer, and six siblings, Mary, Mickey, Agnes, Jeannie, Annie, and Carol.

A celebration of Helen’s life will be held at a later date.

The family is being assisted by Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home, South Second and St. Louis Streets, Lewisburg.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you continue Helen’s tradition of sending donations to the Popcorn Park Animal Refuge in Lacey Township, New Jersey, in honor of her granddaughter Jennifer Peterson, to the national Parkinson’s Foundation in honor of her husband Bernie, to the American Cancer Society in honor of her son Gary, or to your local food banks and shelters to help your community members in need.