Wanda Ellis Peters, 75, of The Villages, Florida, passed away on July 15, 2014, at The Villages Hospice House, from cancer and related complications. She was born on Nov. 28, 1938, in Ferrum, Va., to Harry and Roosevelt (Gusler) Peters. She grew up on their farm with several brothers and sisters. Wanda graduated from Franklin County High School in Rocky Mount, Va., in 1956, and received a nursing degree four years later from Lewis Gale Hospital School of Nursing in Roanoke, Va. After getting married and living in Massachusetts, she moved to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, for a few years, until returning to the Boston area to begin raising a family. She went on to raise three sons in the Hartford, Conn.-area, where she worked as a registered nurse at Hartford Hospital. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Post College in 1985 and a Master of Science degree in business from Central Connecticut State University in 1991. Later, she lived in Cary, N.C., and worked as a nurse consultant inspecting nursing homes for the state. Wanda moved to The Villages eight years ago. She was an avid golfer and mah jong player, and enjoyed collecting fine jewelry and Norman Rockwell Limited Edition plates. She supported manatee preservation and was dedicated to several charitable causes through New Covenant United Methodist Church. Rev. Marilyn Arnell and members of the church spoke at a memorial reception for Wanda on July 19 at Chatham Recreation Center in the The Villages. Wanda is survived by her three sons, Steven Snow, of Watertown, Mass., David Snow, of Geneva, Switzerland, and Scott Snow, of Framingham, Mass.; three sisters, Jean Morgan, of Stedman, N.C., Rita Wilkinson, of Roanoke, Va., and Yvonne Goldsmith, of Boca Raton, Fla.; two grandchildren, Miranda Snow and Jared Snow, of Framingham, Mass.; and many friends in The Villages and elsewhere. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Roosevelt Peters, her brothers, Neil, Delano and Joe, and one sister, Majella. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Save the Manatee Club or New Covenant United Methodist Church if desired.
