Gertrude M. (Vadnais) Peterson, 83, of Linden Street, died at home surrounded by her family on Tuesday, August 10, 2010.

    Her husband of 52 years, Earl W. Peterson, died in 2003. She was born and raised in Worcester, the daughter of Joseph Emile and Yvonne (LeClerc) Vadnais, and lived in Worcester before moving to Boylston in 1951. She leaves several nephews and nieces.

    Mrs. Peterson was a telephone operator for New England Telephone of Worcester for 42 years. She was a member of St. Christopher's Church in Worcester, the Red Hat Society, Senior Citizens of Boylston, the Scandinavian Athletic Club in Shrewsbury and the Greendale Retired Men's Club where she was a member of their traveling group. She loved bingo, gardening, her birds and her cat, Minnie.

    Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, August 13th, in the Miles-Sterling Funeral Home, 100 Worcester Rd. (Rte. 12), Sterling. The funeral service for Mrs. Peterson will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 14th, in the funeral home with burial following at Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton.

    Donations in her memory may be made to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510 or on-line, peta.com.