OSWEGO, NY – Pauline M. Peterson, 88, a resident of Oswego, passed away Friday July 19, 2013, at St. Luke Health Services.
Born in Oswego, she was the daughter of the late Andrew and Pauline (Muccio) Talamo.
Born Pauline Marie Talamo to Italian immigrant parents March 26 1925, Pauline was raised on the Talamo Farm in Minetto, NY.
She was the youngest of six children and was the only surviving member of her immediate family.
Growing up on the farm, she did whatever was required of her including driving her dad’s truck, filled with fresh picked produce, to the regional market in Syracuse.
Quite a feat by today’s standards when you consider she was only 14 years old at the time.
She had four children with her first husband, Jack Thompson, whom she married after the war.
“All boys” she’d tell you. “I kept praying for a girl but …no luck.”
Eventually, she got her wish when, after a brief marriage to a man by the name of Floyd Cooper in the mid-1970, she bonded with one of Floyd’s daughters from a previous marriage and the two have been close ever since.
Jack passed away in 1971.
Suddenly, she was a working mom and not one to sit around, she always found employment.
She was a real go-getter, doing whatever it took to make ends meet so that her kids never went without.
When she retired in 1987, she was the treasurer of the CUNA Mutual credit union at the Hammermill Paper Company.
Pauline had always been very outgoing and sociable.
In her younger days, she enjoyed dancing, long walks, gardening, traveling and most of all cooking.
At one time, she and her best friend Mary Kosbob ran a very successful catering business. She was famous for her beautiful wedding cakes.
Her last marriage was to George Peterson.
All of a sudden she found herself back on the farm, this time in Scriba.
They were happily married right up until his untimely death while vacationing in Florida.
There had been many bumps in the road for this beautiful lady, but she always persevered because she was tough, practical and amazingly resourceful. She was one of the most resilient persons you could ever meet.
Surviving are three sons, Fred (Linda) Thompson of Oswego, Gary Thompson of Indiana and Tim (Tammy) Thompson of Oswego; a step-daughter, Lori (David) Baum; 12 grandchildren, Fred Thompson, Bill Thompson, Michele Domingo, Jaci Thompson, Jesse Thompson, Joel Thompson, Hailey Thompson, Adam Thompson, Ashley Baum, Alex Baum, Christina Baum and Noah Baum; several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by one son, David Thompson.
Funeral services will be held 9 a.m. Wednesday, at St. Mary’s Church.
Burial will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery.
Calling hours will be held 4-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Nelson Funeral Home, 11 W. Albany St., Oswego.
Online condolences may be made at www.nelson-funeralhome.com
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I have known Pauline all of my life. She was everything that this article says about her and than some. She was one of the most beautiful kind of people you would ever want to meet…………always smiling and making you laugh. What a loss. May her journey be swift and may she rest in peace…………love you Pauline