->Peters, Patricia Louise (Hanna)Simsbury, CT: Passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 5, 2013. She died as she lived; surrounded by family, adored by her friends, trusted by her colleagues and loved by all.Patty-Lou was born on April 17, 1945 in Rochester, NY. The daughter of the late Thomas Francis and Beatrice (Ashe) Hanna, she gained her love of family in a childhood spent surrounded by her four brothers, her sister and the Hanna, Ashe and Kerrigan families. She was a graduate of Mercy High School in Rochester and Boston College, and held a Master's Degree from the University of Hartford and a degree in Administration and Supervision from Central Connecticut State University. It was at Boston College that she met her husband of 44 years, James Michael Peters, Jr.Upon graduating from college, she and Jim began a life spent together, built on family and faith. Settling in Simsbury, CT, Patty-Lou was a teacher and administrator in the Simsbury Public School system for more than 33 years. She served first as a sixth and eighth grade teacher before spending the last 18 years as the Vice Principal of her beloved Henry James Memorial School. In her long and distinguished career, she taught more than a generation of young people in Simsbury. In many cases, she had the opportunity to work with children of students she had taught years before, most recently her granddaughter Kaitlyn Belanger. She touched the lives of more than 8,000 students in her career, nurturing them through hard times and inspiring them to success. She had a special place in her heart for children with special needs, and some of her most rewarding moments were seeing the progress those students made at Henry James Memorial School and beyond. Under her leadership, Patty-Lou helped Henry James to be awarded a National Blue Ribbon School designation by the United States Department of Education in 2003 and 2008 as one of the highest performing schools in the country. Patty-Lou was named Educator of the Year by the Simsbury Chamber of Commerce in 2008 and received the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education award of Excellence in Education Communications in 2010. In recognition of her career and impact on the Town of Simsbury, the town proclaimed June 4, 2013 to be "Patty-Lou Peters Day" in Simsbury. She was a Director of the Friends of the Simsbury Public Library, was active in her parish as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Catherine of Siena Church. She was honored in April 2013 by Archbishop Henry J. Mansell with the St. Joseph Medal of Appreciation for her service to her parish.Patty-Lou's most treasured moments were always those spent with her family. Some of her happiest times were on Nantucket, where she vacationed with the Peters family and friends for 33 years. She loved taking long bike rides across the island, family dinners and acting as 'support crew' for the family surfcasting trips. She was devoted to family traditions, passing on her mother's Christmas cookie and apple pie recipes to her children and grandchildren, and creating new traditions of her own. When a family member left Nantucket, she was always the last person on the dock, waving until the ferry had disappeared from view. And when a family member left home - even for just a few hours - she would stand in the window, waving goodbye. She loved to laugh, was quick to cry and was a source of inspiration, support and love to all who were fortunate enough to know her.In addition to her loving husband, she leaves two children & four grandchildren. She is survived by her son Ken Peters and daughter-in-law Karen Peters of Medfield, MA, with their sons William and Alex Peters; her daughter Hanna Belanger and son-in-law John Belanger of Simsbury, with their children Kaitlyn and Michael Belanger. She is survived by her brother Tom Hanna and his wife Mary Ann Hanna of Webster, NY; her brother Gerald Hanna and his wife Joan Hanna of Rochester, NY and her brother Michael Hanna and his wife Barbara Hanna of Fairport, NY. She was predeceased by her brother John Hanna and is survived by his wife Anne Hanna of Brea, CA and was pre-deceased by her sister Anne Strong and her husband Malcolm Strong. Patty-Lou is also survived by the members of the Peters family: sister-in-law Anne Peters of Cambridge, MA; sister-in-law Mary Ellen Peters of Nantucket, MA; sister-in-law Catherine Peters-Carle and her husband Raymond Carle of Brighton, MA; and brother-in-law Christopher Peters and his wife Alison of Medway, MA. She also leaves 31 nieces and nephews, countless friends and colleagues and the memory of a lifetime spent helping others.Patty-Lou's family will receive relatives and friends at Vincent Funeral Home on 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury on Sunday, June 9th from 3-6 p.m. and Monday, June 10th from 4-8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Church at 265 Stratton Brook Road in West Simsbury on Tuesday, June 11th at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Simsbury Cemetery. Donations in Patty-Lou's memory can be made to the St. Catherine of Siena Legacy Fund, c/o St. Catherine of Siena Church, P.O. Box 184, West Simsbury, CT 06092; or McLean Hospice, 75 Great Pond Road, Simsbury, CT 06070.To share a memory with the family, please visit Patty-Lou's "Book of Memories" at www.vincentfuneralhome.com