Neysa Marion (McCall) Peterson, 89, passed away peacefully on April 5th, 2025, in Farragut, Tennessee, surrounded by her loved ones.

She was born on November 29, 1935, to Kendrick and Siiri McCall in Waukegan, Illinois. Neysa graduated on June 11, 1953, from Wiley High School in Waukegan, where she was honored as class Valedictorian. She went on to attend Wesley Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago, graduating in 1956.

It was in Chicago, while in nursing school, that she met the love of her life, James (Jim) Peterson, who was stationed there with the Navy. Neysa and Jim were married on March 23, 1957, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Waukegan, Illinois.

After their marriage, Neysa embarked on a long and dedicated nursing career. While living in Boston, she worked night shifts in obstetrics and gynecology to support Jim as he pursued his Ph.D. at Boston University. Following his graduation, the couple moved to Vermont, where Jim founded the Graduate Counseling Program at the University of Vermont. Neysa continued her nursing work, serving in school settings and with the Visiting Nurse Association in Winooski, Vermont.

Always a passionate learner, Neysa attended graduate school at Saint Michael’s College and earned her Master of Science degree in Counseling in May 1980, specializing in grief counseling. She applied her knowledge with deep compassion through her work with hospice and during 25 years of service with Hospice Volunteer Services. She also supported Jim in providing marriage and family counseling to the local community.

After retirement, Neysa devoted herself fully to caring for Jim when he developed a progressive brain illness. With grace and faithfulness, she studied and adapted to meet his needs, providing loving care at home. She later shared her knowledge with other caregivers, offering encouragement and guidance. Her wisdom was featured in two books by Joni James Aldrich: Understanding and Connecting with Compassion: Help for Loved Ones and Caregivers of a Brain Illness Patient.

Neysa's ability to embrace life with faith, patience, and grace gave her strength in the face of challenges, including a spinal cord injury that left her wheelchair-bound for the last 15 years of her life. Even then, she continued to engage with her community at the assisted living facility, living each day with resilience, surrender, and joy.

Neysa will be remembered as a faithful believer in Christ and a woman of deep strength, gentleness, and love. Her kindness touched everyone she met.

She is survived by her three daughters and their spouses: Sherry (Ray), Kathleen (Scott), and Susan (Todd); and by her granddaughters: Erin, Emily (James), Kaley (David), Lindsey, and Rylee. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James A. Peterson; her parents, Kendrick and Siiri McCall; her sister, Sarah; and her son-in-law, Randy.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to her granddaughter’s nonprofit organization, Cosechando Felicidad, at harvestinghappiness.org/donate or by check to Cosechando Felicidad Inc., 117 Elk Lane, Williston, VT 05495.