Carla P. Peterson

BOYLSTON – Carla P. Peterson of Boylston, MA passed away in her home on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the age of 82. Carla was born on March 29, 1943, to Roland and Ruth Perdue in Schenectady, NY, where she lived with her parents, older sister, Greta, and cousin, Irene, on Bedford Road in Schenectady.

Carla graduated from Linton High School in Schenectady, NY and went on to receive an associate’s degree from Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ. Upon graduation, Carla returned to Schenectady and worked as an administrative assistant for General Electric. After an August 1965 wedding to Lawrence E. Peterson, they moved to Pittsburgh, PA where Carla worked for Richard Mellon Scaife at the Mellon Foundation while Larry attended the University of Pittsburgh pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology. A move to the Worcester, MA area in June 1969 followed when Larry accepted an internship and later as a staff Psychologist at Worcester State Hospital. Carla then had a lengthy career working for Nathan Greenberg at the Worcester CPA firm of Greenberg, Rosenblatt, Kull and Bitsoli.

Carla was very civic minded and spent countless hours with many Boylston organizations including the First Congregational Church, the Boylston Garden Club, the Boylston Food Pantry and was twice elected for three-year terms to the Board of Selectmen.

Among Carla’s passions were her rescued cats and dogs, keeping their many bird feeders full, baking chocolate chip cookies, swimming in her backyard pool, and joining friends of the Linden Street Dog Walking Group. Carla was also fond of traveling, especially her trips to Africa, the Galapagos Islands and Alaska and to many National Parks. Annual rituals were “sibs' weekend” at the Peterson “camp” on Great Sacandaga Lake and attending mini reunions with Larry’s Fraternity brothers and their wives with whom Carla had become friends while Larry was at Lehigh University. While travel was important, Carla’s life mostly focused on her home in Boylston, relaxing at the pool, hosting many gatherings of friends and family, keeping the bird population of Boylston well fed and maintaining the many gardens in their yard.

Carla was predeceased by her parents, as well as sister Greta Forsythe and brother-in-law William Forsythe of NC, as well as her nephew, Matthew Forsythe, cousin, Irene Green of NY and mother and father-in-law, Lillian and Lawrence G. Peterson of NY. Carla is survived by her husband, Lawrence E. Peterson of Boylston, MA, niece Melissa Forsythe Ruelle (David) of NC, niece, Dr. Amy Forsythe Morgan (Scott) of NC and their children (David, Grant), nephew Stephen Forsythe (Margret) and their son, Cameron of NC. Carla is also survived by brother-in-law, Donald F. Peterson of CT (Norma and her sons Keith Johnson of MA and Michael Johnson of FL) and Sister-in-law, Shirley P. Dutton (Alan) of TX and Larry’s cousins Robert Marshall (Marianne) of MA and Richard Marshall (Cindy) of MA.

Carla’s Worcester and Boylston friends are too numerous to list but special mention must be made of her Linden Street neighbors, the Engvalls and Arlene Murphy/Dale Maki plus her Boylston Food Pantry Partners, Linda Olsen and Charlie Floria who were so important in helping Larry and Carla these past few years,

Burial of Carla’s ashes will be private. A Celebration of Carla’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the First Congregational Church of Boylston, 10 Church Street, Boylston, MA. In lieu of flowers contributions could be made in her honor to the Worcester Animal Rescue League, 139 Holden Street, Worcester, MA 01606 or to the Town of Boylston Food Pantry, 221 Main Street, Boylston, MA 01505.

Arrangements are under the care of Miles-Sterling Funeral & Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Road, Sterling. www.milesfuneralhome.com