Andrea Kozberg Peterson was cleared for her final takeoff on April 19, 2023. She was born October 6, 1944, in Los Angeles, California, the only child of Andrew Harrison Kozberg and Bess Freed Kozberg. Her early years were spent in Los Angeles, where she graduated from Hamilton High School and later attended Los Angeles City College, graduating with an Associate in Arts degree in Medical Assisting. She also attended Cypress College in Cypress, California, majoring in aviation technology.

Andrea worked in medical and veterinary assisting, secretarial positions, bookkeeping and public relations work, airline reservations sales, flight operations, and briefly as a travel agent. She also worked as a medical transcriptionist for the radiology department at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire for 14 years, retiring in 2008. Andrea did medical transcription from home for several years. She enjoyed modeling in live fashion shows throughout her life. She had her own secretarial service company for several years.

On March 31, 1979, Andrea married Robert Dennis Patrick Peterson in Long Beach, California. The two met at a pilot seminar, and it was love at first sight. Mr. Peterson was a commercially licensed pilot and helped Andrea obtain her private pilot's license. Flying was a passion for Andrea, and her happiest times in life were at the controls of airplanes, riding in them, and watching them. Andrea and Dennis enjoyed many adventures traveling the world by plane, train, car and cruise ship. Andrea devoted her life to her beloved husband until his death in 2007. They moved to Quechee, Vermont in 1994 to enjoy the peaceful rural life. The couple was childless by choice.

Mrs. Peterson began studying ballet at age 4 in Los Angeles, and continued dancing for most of her lifetime. She performed with local ballet companies for years. She also enjoyed competitive figure skating in her younger years, competitive running, long-distance bike rides, hiking and sailing. She loved animals, especially dogs and penguins, and anything to do with the outdoors, nature and the sea. She enjoyed cross country and downhill skiing, reading, snowshoeing, walking, travel, flying, reading, writing, classical music, driving trucks, interacting with the world's people, and taking cruises. Choral singing was a favorite activity in her later years. She taught herself to read music and play classical piano and Spanish guitar.

Andrea's training as a flight attendant with several airlines was a treasured experience despite eventually pursuing other career paths, and in her later years she worked as a volunteer aviation ambassador and crew member on an international airline whenever possible, a realization of another lifelong dream.

In April of 2009, Mrs. Peterson became a part-time member of the Town of Hartford, Vermont Fire Department, serving as a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician, call firefighter, and in support services wherever needed. She considered it an honor to be of service and to make a difference in the lives of people everywhere. Andrea received certification as a Level 1 Firefighter in 2011, which was a lifetime dream since the age of 5. This experience was one of the major highlights of her life. She retired in December of 2019.

Andrea had DNA connections to ancestors from 118 different countries and was able to visit many of these countries over the years, including the North Polar region. Crossing the Atlantic by ship was another favorite trip. Extensive travel within the United States by car and train was a vacation favorite, even if some of those adventures with Dennis resembled the pioneers crossing the country in covered wagons. An unforgettable expedition cruise through the legendary Northwest Passage in 2016 was another lifetime travel highlight, as this was the first time that a civilian passenger ship had made this historic journey.

Another childhood dream was realized in early 2023 when Andrea went on an expedition cruise of Antarctica. She loved seeing the penguins and magnificent polar scenery, as well as visiting two cities in Argentina and meeting Argentineans while going to and from the ship.

Andrea was a strong believer in and supporter of the fight for women's rights and equality throughout her lifetime. She felt that it was important in life to be of service, to keep learning, contribute something, and not just take up space on the earth. People fascinated her, and she loved interacting with them. She believed in making every day count for something good. Her philosophy was "Someday is today, so don't put off doing things which enrich your life or you may have regrets at the end that you missed something wonderful."

Per Andrea's specific wishes, there will be no funeral service, only cremation. Her ashes will be scattered near a local airport to be close to the planes and flying she loved so much. Instead of flowers or condolences, please give the gifts of blood, organ donations, and charitable donations to help those in need.