Audrey J Peterman

    It is with sadness that the family announces that Audrey June (Perry) Peterman, a lifelong resident of Altoona, died on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the Presbyterian Village, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania after courageously battling Alzheimer’s disease. She was 96 years of age. Heaven certainly welcomed an angel, and as Audrey passed through the gates, she distributed her famous chocolate cookies to her husband and to her son who both smiled as they ate them. Audrey June was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania on August 15, 1929, the only child of Arthur Fay and Marian Blondina (Stehley) Perry. Her parents preceded her in death, and she was the last living member of her family. She married Andrew Emes Peterman, the absolute love of her life, on November 22, 1950, at the Greenwood United Methodist Church in Altoona, and they were married by the late Reverend Charles Murray. Her husband preceded her in death on July 20, 2000, after 49 years and 8 months of a blissful marriage.

She graduated in 1947 from the Altoona Area High School. She was employed by Brent Optical in Altoona when the office was in downtown Altoona. She was a member of the Greenwood United Methodist Church for 80 years and was the oldest living member of the church at the time of her death.

She enjoyed attending family events, loved to read, and enjoyed completing crossword puzzle after crossword puzzle and word search after word search. She was an avid Jeopardy fan, but her favorite game show was Wheel of Fortune, and she could beat any and all competition nightly when playing her beloved game. She loved sports, especially Penn State Football, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the late Payne Stewart, who was her favorite PGA golfer. She attended her grandchildren’s sporting events, plays, choral events, and dancing performances. She and her husband loved traveling to St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, and to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee with her husband’s two brothers and their wives. Andy and Audrey also loved to travel to local destinations with their best friends, Dick and Ethel McNeal, and one of their favorite car rides was to Glendale State Park, where they always stopped to sample the local fare at Sir Barney’s and Noel’s Ice Cream.

Audrey was a great cook, and she was known for her macaroni salad and chocolate cake with peanut butter icing. She also was a baker of cookies, especially chocolate chip cookies, which were eaten at weddings, at Christmas time, or at other special occasions. Above all, she was blessed with four life-long friends: Pauline Fisher, Ethel McNeal, Carmen Slep, and Edna (Toots) Bickle. These four ladies lit up the phone lines when they were living, and when Pauline, Ethel, Carmen, and Toots died, Audrey missed those phone conversations, which went far beyond sharing the daily news. She also missed seeing Carmen’s three sons, Richie Slep, Daniel Slep, and J. Bradley Slep, whom she had become very fond of. She often said that she and the Slep boys shared the same unique sense of humor. Audrey firmly believed that a sense of humor helped one conquer the challenges of life, and she certainly possessed one until the day she died.

Audrey is survived by the following: her eldest daughter, Dr. Trudy Peterman (Victoria Aaron) with whom she had lived with for over 8 1/2 years; her youngest son, Timothy Peterman (Tammy); her youngest daughter, Tina Schultz (Michael); and a daughter-in-law, Karen

Peterman. She was blessed with 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. She is survived by nine special cousins: Judy Schappell (Richard), Jay Perry, Robert Perry, Greg Perry, Susie Fisher Carter, Nancy Fisher Anderson, David Fisher, and Patty Edevane, Robert (Bobby) Ramsey. Audrey, in addition, is survived by Sally Peterman, a sister-in-law, and by John and Coralene Peterman, a brother-in-law and his wife, and by many nieces and nephews, who many considered Audrey “June” to be their favorite aunt. She is also survived by her three canine grandchildren: Jenna, Sophie, and Molly. The canines will miss their grandmother very much, for there was no lap like that of their grandma’s.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew Emes Peterman; by her eldest son, Thomas Fay Peterman; by her grandson, Zachary Tyler Peterman and by a special niece, Rebecca Ann Peterman. She was also preceded in death by a favorite cousin Art Wilt and by Josephine, his first wife, and by Patty, his second wife. Above all, she was preceded in death by Jordie, her favorite Yorkie, and by Coco, her favorite brown Lab

Audrey June Peterman led an extraordinary life. She, along with her husband, Andrew, were a part of this Nation’s Greatest Generation, a generation that didn’t think what they were doing during World War II was anything special, because at that time, everyone was fulfilling their generation’s motto of Duty, Honor, Country, and when called to serve, they all went and didn’t whine about it. Born during the year of the Great Depression, Audrey survived this country’s wars fromWorld War II to Afghanistan. She raised four children, and she and her husband helped each child attend and graduate from college on a very frugal family budget. She was hardworking and great fun, and she took great pride in running an organized and loving household. As a mother, she knew when to speak and knew when to listen. She dearly loved her husband, and her children were the loves of her life. Growing up, Audrey always dreamed of being a dancer; however, she gave that dream up willingly to dance with her husband every morning before breakfast in the kitchen of their home to the music of the local radio station WRTA. Many felt that Andy and Audrey were each other’s soulmates, because their love for and devotion to each other was visibly seen throughout their entire lives. Andy and Audrey, exemplary, but humble, Christians, were very giving people and donated to many causes and often would slip various members of their church congregation an envelope that contained money to address an urgent need. As her caregiver for the last eight plus years, it was an honor and privilege for me to care for her. We continuously laughed together over silly and often insignificant things. Mama, when you were at the Presbyterian Village, you often asked me and Tina to take you home, and we can truly now say that you have finally gone Home to be with your Lord and Savior and all those you loved during your lifetime who now reside in Heaven.

At the request of the deceased there will be no public viewing and private services, and the arrangements will be made by Mauk &Yates Funeral Home in Altoona. Pastor Calvin Miller, pastor of the Greenwood United Methodist Church, will conduct a private family funeral at the convenience of the family. The interment will be at Blair Memorial Park in Bellwood. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to either the Greenwood United Methodist Church, 1505 East Walton Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602 or to the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society, 1837 East Pleasant Vally Blvd., Altoona PA 16602