Celebration of Life 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 19, 2011 Zabka Funeral Home Seward, Nebraska Officiant: Pastor Bob Paulson Mary Virginia Murphy Peterson was born October 9, 1929, in Covington, Kentucky, to parents Lawrence Murphy and Bernadette (Lorenz) Murphy and died peacefully on November 5, 2011 in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 82 years, 27 days. Virginia survived a childhood of extreme poverty and wandered through the desert until finally meeting the love of her life, Donald Dean "Pete" Peterson. Pete and Ginny were together for 37 years and during these years Virginia experienced the joy of being loved unconditionally by her husband, Pete. Virginia was a Murphy imbued with the spirit of the Fighting Irish. Over the last 17 years, Virginia battled three catastrophic cancers and the endless damages her body incurred due to the treatments. She lived to know love on this planet and she succeeded mightily through the constant loving care lavished upon her by Pete. She is survived by her husband, Donald "Pete" Peterson, Lincoln; brother and sister-in-law, Lawrence and Jean Murphy of Ohio; her son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Karen Meyer, Denver, CO; daughters and sons-in-law, Carla and John Dimitriou, Seattle, WA, Vickie and Ward Braaten, Charlotte, NC, Teri and Frank Martin, Adele City, VA; many grandchildren; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Joann Martens, Seward, Karen Peterson, Seward, Richard and Barb Peterson, DeWitt; nieces and nephews . Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Millie Kramer; sister-in-law, Carol Browne; brothers-in-law, Claus Martens and Larry Peterson. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers, and memories of life shared with Virginia. We will miss our Wild Irish Rose.