Patricia Peterson

Patricia Peterson, our beloved mom, 88, of Cochiti Lake, passed away in her sleep on April 22, 2024.

Pat was born in Winsted, Minnesota on March 3, 1936, to Henry and Mary Fleischacker. She was the youngest of nine children. Upon graduating from high school, she moved to Colorado, where she met and married Joe Peterson and raised her family. After raising her children, she had multiple successful businesses in Colorado. In 1988, she moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico where she established a thriving designer clothing and accessories business in downtown Santa Fe, Pat Peterson’s Blue Rose.

In 2006 Pat moved to Cochiti Lake, where her son, an architect, designed and built her home on Koorani Street, overlooking a beautiful desert landscape. Pat’s brother Stan Fleischacker, and sister-in-law Bette were instrumental in the building of her home, where they worked tirelessly until its completion. Pat was a very active community volunteer, serving on the Cochiti Community Fund for eight years, and at the library for 10 years. She co-founded a local bridge club and played for nearly 16 years. Other groups she volunteered for were the Santa Fe Opera Guild, Cochiti Lake Art Fair, Cochiti Memorial Garden, and the local Recycling Program. Her many friends remember her selfless devotion to the town she loved. Some of Pat’s favorite pastimes were going for walks, bird watching, watching sunsets, and reading books, but most of all, spending time with her family.

Pat is survived by her three children: her daughter Pam Peterson of Santa Fe, NM along with Pam’s husband, Bill Crooks, and son, Rigel Baron; her daughter Kim O’Connor of Fountain, CO along with Kim’s husband, Frank O’Connor, and their two children, Madison and Collin O’Connor; and her son Tom Peterson of Georgetown, CO. She has one surviving sister, Ramona Sauter, of Appleton, Wisconsin.

Pat will be forever remembered as a gentle and loving parent, grandparent, and friend, whose kindness continues to bring warmth and smiles to those who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Bird Conservancy or the National Audubon Society.

The family of Patricia Peterson has entrusted the care of their loved one to Rivera Family Funeral Home in the beautiful Espanola Valley.