Laura Beth Peterson, age 47, died January 1, 2019 in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Born Laura Beth Petersen in Pompton Plains, New Jersey on February 15, 1971, she lived in Cortland, NY and Readington, NJ before moving with her family to Longwood, Florida in 1977, making friends each place she went. She graduated from Lake Brantley High School in 1989, having spent a year of that time as an exchange student in Stranda, Norway, forging friendships she would foster all her life. She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1993, and then traveled to Washington state where she became a resident of Holden Village, an experience that transformed her life. After returning to Minnesota, she married her college sweetheart, Eric Peterson, in 1998.

In 1999, she and Eric moved to Florida to be nearer her mother as they began their family, giving birth to son, Noah, in 2004, and son, Eli, in 2009. She devoted her life to raising these two happy, healthy boys, and to bringing all of her interests and education together in work as a Mindset Life Coach, self-employed and thriving in this work that she loved, holding space for people to come back to their true selves, deeply.

Over the course of her life, Laura explored her passion for the power of the mind, for energy work, for clean and natural living, and the healing of body-mind-spirit in ways that transform lives. A teacher at heart, she saw her purpose as to guide others to a vision and experience of themselves as pure, unlimited potential. She believed in the body's ability to heal itself, even after two surgeries for a congenital heart defect. She explored tirelessly for ways to thrive radiantly while experiencing breast cancer, in a way that she could align with and feel supported by, body and soul. While she wished to have more time with her boys, she was not afraid of what was next. In the end, the disease may have taken her body, but it most definitely did not take her spirit. She died peacefully and well, surrounded by her family, exemplifying the grace with which she faced other challenges in her life. Among so many other things, she will be remembered for her vibrant smile, keen intellect, and her hopeful, determined heart.

Laura is survived by her husband of 20 years, Eric, her two boys, Noah (14) and Eli (9); parents Roberta (David) Isaacson, Paul (Connie) Petersen; sister Debbie (John) Bernard and nieces Deanna (Kenny) Passer, Rachel Bernard, and Lauren Bernard; brother Jeff (Marcie) Petersen, nephew Austin Petersen, and niece Amanda Petersen.

All are invited to a Celebration of Life in her honor to be held on Friday, January 18th at DeGusipe Funeral Home in Maitland (9001 N. Orlando Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751) -- service at 6:00pm, with refreshments to follow. Laura requested people feel free to dress in bright colors. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorials to their Go Fund Me campaign ( www.gofundme.com/supporting-laura039s-vibrant-health ), which directly benefits Eric, Noah, and Eli -- the lights of her life.

Thank you to Hospice of the Comforter for the space and tender loving care that allowed Laura to let go peacefully with her loved ones by her side. And thank you as well to Laura's incredibly strong community of support for loving and championing her so well, and taking such generous care of her boys, both while she was alive, and into the future.

We ask that you continue to envision Laura in vibrancy and wellness, fully healed in spirit, if not physically cured. She will continue to share her bright shining light with the world through each and every one of us who love and miss her.