Wilder, Vt. —
Born the first child of Gustav and Irene (Weber) Peter on June 29,1933, in Frankfort/Main, West Germany, where she lived most of her childhood. During WWII the children moved to their grandparents’ farm to be away from the bombings. At the tender age of six she lost her beloved mother to diphtheria. A loss that stayed with her throughout her entire life and guided many of the decisions.
As a young woman she took nurses training at St. Joseph’s hospital in Freiburg/Berg, Germany – in the Black Forest. While in nurses training she lived with nuns and worked as a dietary cook. She graduated and was licensed on Sept. 29,1953, as a children’s nurse. She became a private children’s nurse and traveled to several countries with her clients & their families.
On July 16, 1959, her career brought her to the United States. Working for a family in California and later becoming reunited with Larry Charles Chamberlin, a man she had met in Germany while he was serving in the U.S. Army. On March 19, 1960 Ursula and Larry were married. On Feb. 10, 1964, Ursula became a proud citizen of The United States of America. In 1967, with three young children they moved to Vermont where Larry’s family had lived for several generations. She settled in Thetford, Vt. where she had her fourth & youngest child.
Ursula returned to Germany for two visits, the first in 1975 with her youngest daughter and the last time in 1999 by herself. While the children were growing up she worked as an Avon Representative, a short time in a nursing home in Bradford, Vt. then in 1973 became a Certified Nurses Assistant through Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital. She worked at MHMH until it eventually became DHMC and moved with it to the new facility. Ursula had many titles while at DHMC, Nurses Aide, Unit Assistant, PT Unit Secretary & Information Desk Receptionist until her retirement in 1995.
After her retirement from DHMC she worked as a freelance care provider for the elderly. Working both in their homes, in Kendall and other retirement facilities. She helped take care of her clients needs, ran errands, took them shopping & to appointments and listened to them.
Ursula enjoyed gardening, reading, cooking, sewing, knitting & other crafts. She had a great sense of humor, spoke her mind, was compassionate & a wonderful listener.
She leaves a sister, Doris Gelbrich of Germany; a brother, Norbert Peter (whereabouts unknown); a daughter, Pamela Eastman and her husband, Richard “Dick” Eastman of Strafford, Vt.; a son, Roger Chamberlin and his wife, Mary of Orange, N.H., a son, Bruce Chamberlin of New Durham, N.H.; a daughter, Rebecca Chamberlin of West Lebanon, N.H.; four Grandchildren, Lisa Potter, Michael Chamberlin, Ashley Follensbee & Matthew Chamberlin; great-grandchildren; nieces & nephews.
She was predeceased by her father, Gustav Peter; her mother, Irene (Weber) Peter; and Larry Chamberlin whom she loved until her death.
Visiting hours will be held Thursday, Aug. 31 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction, Vt. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony’s Church in White River Junction, Friday at 11 a.m. followed by interment in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Condolences may be expressed to Ursula’s family in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Bayada Foundation, PO Box 1590, Norwich, VT 05055.