Liliane Louise Petersen

July 16, 1925 - July 28, 2021

Liliane Louise Petersen

July 16, 1925 - July 28, 2021

Obituary

Liliane Bozzalla was born in Grenoble in 1925. She was orphaned at age 5 and raised by her Aunt Jeanne on a small subsistence farm in the Alps of France.  Life was hard but they managed with the help of the extended family. Liliane was smart and her aunt was able to send her to Catholic boarding schools for her education. In 1940, at the age of 15, her aunt became paralyzed and she spent 6 months nursing her alone, isolated by distance, the cold winter and the Nazi occupation of France. Her aunt passed away 6 months later and Liliane, emancipated at age 15, faced the rest of World War 2 on her own. Unbeknownst to Liliane at that time, she had partial Jewish heritage and so she was fortunate to have survived the war. She took the money her aunt had left her and used it to continue her education.

Upon graduation, she worked for a tourist resort on the beautiful Lac D’Annecy.  She decided to go work in England to learn English, first as a ladies’ companion, then as a nanny, and finally as a student in a secretarial school. On returning to France, she worked at TWA on the Champs Elysée in Paris where she heard of an American Company advertising hefty salaries for bilingual secretaries. She was hired and moved to Casablanca, Morocco where she met her the love of her life, Frederick K. Petersen of Brooklyn, New York. They married in 1952, and their children Diane and Fred were both born there.

Liliane and Frederick lived all over the world (Morocco, Iran, Indonesia, Mexico, Australia) and finally moved to the US when Diane was 15 in order to provide a stable home and education for Diane and Fred in their high school years.  Once they were off to college though, Liliane and Frederick returned to their adventurous lives and moved to Zaire where Liliane was the administrative assistant to the Project Manager of a huge development project.  They finally retired to River Edge, New Jersey and Liliane proudly became an American.

After Frederick died in 1993, Liliane moved to Green Valley, Arizona where she built a rich life for herself, surrounding herself with wonderful and supportive friends. Each summer she would travel back to her small home in France where the rich memories of childhood were rekindled. Her family was blessed by the stories she told of her youth. They made their visits there come alive!

At age 90, Liliane moved to Mount Vernon, Washington in order to be closer to her children. But she continued to winter in her Arizona home and summer in her beloved old farm in the Alps. She continued to manage three homes right up until April of this year when she took a tragic fall. She lived a remarkable life, a strong independent and vibrant woman through and through. We will miss her so much!

She leaves behind her daughter Diane Staves, son Fred Petersen, 5 married grandchildren (Jason and Aarti Petersen, Jordan and Amber Petersen, Matthew and Adriana Staves, Jennifer and Rishi Mandal, Kelly and Nick Guy), and 8 greatgrandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, leave a story or a favorite memory you have of her in the online Guestbook. We will compile these in a book to remember her by.

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Liliane Petersen - Memorial Slideshow

23 responses to Liliane Louise Petersen

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  1. My sweet Liliane, how I miss you already. You were a joy to me and I loved doing things for you, as you were always so appreciative. I will miss you and Bijou in the time I have left here on earth. Thank you for loving my daughter and always concerned for her. I am grateful to know your children and hear about your life before we met. Rest in peace my dear one.
    LAJUNE

    1. Diane says:

      Oh LaJune, she loved you and your daughter. Thank you for your many kindnesses, for your deep caring and for your guidance and support to me and my brother during her last few months.
      So grateful
      Diane

  2. Nous sommes très attristés d’avoir appris cette nouvelle. Nous vous présentons nos sincères condoléances et partageons votre peine
    Nous vous souhaitons du courage pour traverser cette épreuve
    Puisse ces mots apaiser votre chagrin et vous apporter du réconfort
    Lydie gilbert simone

    1. Diane says:

      Merci Lydie et Gilbert.
      oui je suis tellement triste. Maman vous aimait. Merci pour vos milles gentillesses pendant les années. Elle était si contente que vous étiez las a garder les yeux sur son petit royaume.
      Je viens en Septembre. A bientôt. Et Merci infiniment.
      Diane

  3. My second time to leave a note of thanks for your friendship . You became very dear to me and I shall miss you immensely. Thank you for loving Karen and always being so concerned, that meant the world to me. I shall miss our chats and neighborly ties. Always know you are in my heart.
    LAJUNE

  4. It was quite an experience to be in Liliane’s presence. Her intense blue eyes would focus on you, and she would lightly touch & hold your arm while talking. It is unusual & flattering to receive such full attention.
    I recently spent several hours alone with Liliane in her home–she was gracious & congenial & entertaining. She happily told me what wonderful children she had in Diane & Fred, & how Diane’s medical expertise was such a blessing to her.
    Liliane will be missed, especially at family social gatherings. I am fortunate & grateful to have known her. 💗

    1. Diane says:

      thank you dear friend for your loving support during her long illness. She really liked you but then again, who doesn’t?
      love
      diane

  5. Dear Fred, Diane and Family,
    We are so sorry for your loss – I really did think we would have more time with Liliane and Diane – at least a few more times for tea / Champagne in our garden… We are lucky that we did get to do that once, and we’re thankful for getting to know a remarkable woman even for just a little time. My mother enjoyed meeting her, and was hoping for some of Liliane’s “Frenchness” to rub off on her as we never get to France enough! Now Liliane can go as much as she likes, and we will see her there in all the wonderful places – though she will be so missed here.

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