Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and friend, Athena "Tina" (Sakalis) Peterson passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on October 29, 2020. Tina was born in Los Angeles on January 21, 1935. She was the youngest daughter of George and Mary Sakalis who had each immigrated to the United States from the Peloponnesus in Greece shortly after the turn of the century. Her father was from the village of Soudena and those roots were important to Tina throughout her life.

She graduated Fairfax High School and went on to Los Angeles City College as a Dental Assistant major and worked at a Dental Office. When her true love, Steve Peterson returned from the Air Force, she left college to marry him in 1955. When she had her first child she stayed home to be a homemaker and to be a support to her husband as he attended UCLA Law School. Over the next 10 years her family grew to add two more children. Together with her husband she provided a beautiful welcoming warm fun home. Many people consider her a second mom or an additional grandmother. She instilled in her children the importance of education, travel and independence.

Her whole being was to give and to help others. When her kids were in school she was active in various church and school "clubs" and many charities. She lived for and never missed her kids' athletic games or events. As her kids grew she worked for LAUSD in the federal school lunch program and then in later years she worked in retail on her treasured Larchmont Blvd at Confetti. But her true calling was taking care of her husband, Steve ( of nearly 65 years), her family and helping anyone in need - including any animal or pet with her energetic positive outlook. She shined as a grandmother and was devoted to her grandchildren and grand nephews and nieces, where again she would faithfully be found sitting and cheering on the sidelines or in the audience. She was a loyal friend and cherished her lifelong friends and extended family. She loved to cook, travel, have fun, and dance.

We all will remember her laughing (mostly at herself), her amazing cooking, her huge holiday dinners, her stylish dressing, her quick wit, her strength, her words of wisdom and most importantly her grace, love and care. As her body started to fail she reminded us of the strength of mind over matter and the power of love and prayer. We will miss her daily calls. One of her last sayings was "Grab the Happiness".

Tina is survived by her children John (Pamela) Peterson, Anne (Tony) Ranger and George (Agnes) Peterson, grandchildren Christopher Peterson, Connie (Matthew) Pavlovich, Stephen (Anna) Peterson; Alexa Ranger, Chester Ranger; Victoria Peterson, Natalie Peterson and Luke Peterson; great grandchildren Pamie and Michael Pavlovich and John Peterson; her sister-in-law Sonia Peterson, and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews and Godchildren and very dear friends. She is preceded in death by her husband Steve, her parents, her sister Georgia (George) Pappas, her in laws, Pete (Barbara) Peterson, Dena (Tom) Charouhas, Nia Zaferis (Ernie Zaferis), and George Peterson.

The family gives special thanks to Jennifer Charley who provided attentive care and unwavering devoted love to Tina over the past year and a half.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, November 12, 2020 at Saint Sophia Cathedral, 1324 S. Normandie Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90006. Due to the pandemic we understand if you cannot make the service, but ask that you say a prayer or cook a favorite meal and think of her. Instead of a donation please help someone in need in her honor or a donation can be made to Saint Sophia Foundation.

Arrangements under the direction of Chapman Funeral Homes - Terry & Mary Harmon, Funeral Directors. Toll free (855) 628-0447.

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Obituary notice for Chapman Funeral Homes. Please visit www.chapmanfuneraldirectors.com .

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