In Memoriam: Lillian Frances Peterson

Lillian Frances Peterson
Oct. 21, 1928 – Nov. 12, 2018

At the age of ninety, Lillian Frances Peterson ascended into Heaven on Nov. 12, 2018, with her son Brad by her side, at her home in Perris, California.

Lillian is a former thirty-seven year resident of Canyon Lake where she and her husband designed and build their own waterfront home. She was the owner of Canyon Lake Hardware.

Lillian was born in Stamford, Connecticut, to Michael and Lillian Barrett on Oct. 21, 1928. She was the oldest of four siblings.

Lillian’s first marriage was to Daniel Sawyer from 1947 to 1956, during which time they had a daughter, Linda Gail Sawyer.

Her second marriage was to Joseph McCabe from 1956 to 1962, during which time they had a daughter, Karen Marie McCabe.

Her third marriage was to Gunnar Alfred Peterson around 1963, where she acquired two children from her husband’s previous marriage: James Peterson and Christopher Peterson. Lillian and Gunnar had one son together, Brad Matthew Peterson.

Lillian moved to California with her husband Gunner Peterson and their children in order to help her brother and his kids. In 1977, Gunner and Lillian opened the Handy Hammer in Corona with the family, which later they branched off into a mom-and-pop hardware store, Canyon Lake Hardware.

The well-known family hardware store was run by Lillian, her son Brad and her grandkids. She also raised and cared for her grandchildren Michelle, Anthony, Joey and Lilly as her own kids. She had a kind heart and a giving spirit and her door was always open to animals and people alike.

More recently, Lillian resided in Perris with her son Brad and her animals. She was immensely loved and will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

Lillian Peterson is survived by her sons Brad, Jimmy and Chris, daughter Karen and fourteen grandchildren.

Services will be held to celebrate the beautiful life of Lillian Peterson at Canyon Lake Community Church on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018, at 1 p.m.