of Little Rock, AR
April 17, 1945 - February 24, 2025
Eileen Aleda (Tindell) Peterson, 79, Little Rock, departed this life Monday, February 24, 2025. She was born in Waco, Texas, April 17, 1945, to Marie and Thomas Tindell. Her parents and a brother, Manuel Santana, preceded her in death. Left to cherish her memories are her children, Reggie Angel and Marc Peterson; grandchild, Taylor Anderson; great grandchildren, Ocean Anderson, and Kai Anderson, and granddog, Ewan. She is also remembered by numerous friends and former coworkers from the Veterans Administration Medical System.
Eileen grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and attended Ursuline Academy, a Catholic school for girls (now home to the Southwest School of Art and Craft). She graduated and moved to the Los Angeles, California, area and married Daniel Richard Peterson. She then raised two children while supporting her husband's career with the Veterans Administration. After the family moved back to San Antonio, Texas, for a year, they moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, where she learned to ski for the first time and continued to enjoy that pastime while living up north. They then moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where she started her federal career with Housing and Urban Development (HUD). They finally made their home in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1984. She continued to work for HUD until she became a Ward Clerk for the Veterans Health Administration.
Eileen started nursing school after her divorce in 1990. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1995. She then began her nursing career with the VA Medical Centers in Little Rock and North Little Rock. She found her true calling as a nurse and advanced her career to become a Nurse Manager for mental health divisions in the VA Medical Centers. Many of her coworkers became lifelong friends. Eileen was known as a kind supervisor who was always willing to stand up for her employees. She was easy to talk with and had compassion for not only the veterans, but for her employees as well. She was extremely knowledgeable about the VA policies not just about mental health - and many sought her expertise. One former coworker described her as having a ''warmth and peace'' about her. That radiated in her personal life as well.
Eileen was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Uterine/Ovarian cancer in September 2024, after several months of health issues. She fought the cancer for as long as she could but succumbed to it in hospice at her daughter's home with her children by her side. The family would like to thank all the nurses and doctors at Baptist and CARTI for their service to Eileen over the past few months, especially Dr. Sam Makhoul.
Eileen lived simply and believed that time spent with family and friends was always more important than anything else. She enjoyed visiting family in San Antonio, Texas, and going to the beach in Destin, Florida. She spoke fluent Spanish and was an avid reader. She loved watching NFL games especially the Kansas City Chiefs. She will always be remembered for her words of wisdom during difficult times, her positive attitude, and her generous and loving spirit.
Funeral services will be Friday, March 7, 2025, at noon, at Roller-Drummond Funeral Home, 10900 I-30, Little Rock, Arkansas (501) 455-5800. Visitation will follow the service.
Eileen Aleda (Tindell) Peterson, 79, Little Rock, departed this life Monday, February 24, 2025. She was born in Waco, Texas, April 17, 1945, to Marie and Thomas Tindell. Her parents and a brother, Manuel Santana, preceded her in death. Left to cherish her memories are her children, Reggie Angel and Marc Peterson; grandchild, Taylor Anderson; great grandchildren, Ocean Anderson, and Kai Anderson, and granddog, Ewan. She is also remembered by numerous friends and former coworkers from the Veterans Administration Medical System.
Eileen grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and attended Ursuline Academy, a Catholic school for girls (now home to the Southwest School of Art and Craft). She graduated and moved to the Los Angeles, California, area and married Daniel Richard Peterson. She then raised two children while supporting her husband's career with the Veterans Administration. After the family moved back to San Antonio, Texas, for a year, they moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, where she learned to ski for the first time and continued to enjoy that pastime while living up north. They then moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where she started her federal career with Housing and Urban Development (HUD). They finally made their home in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1984. She continued to work for HUD until she became a Ward Clerk for the Veterans Health Administration.
Eileen started nursing school after her divorce in 1990. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1995. She then began her nursing career with the VA Medical Centers in Little Rock and North Little Rock. She found her true calling as a nurse and advanced her career to become a Nurse Manager for mental health divisions in the VA Medical Centers. Many of her coworkers became lifelong friends. Eileen was known as a kind supervisor who was always willing to stand up for her employees. She was easy to talk with and had compassion for not only the veterans, but for her employees as well. She was extremely knowledgeable about the VA policies not just about mental health - and many sought her expertise. One former coworker described her as having a ''warmth and peace'' about her. That radiated in her personal life as well.
Eileen was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Uterine/Ovarian cancer in September 2024, after several months of health issues. She fought the cancer for as long as she could but succumbed to it in hospice at her daughter's home with her children by her side. The family would like to thank all the nurses and doctors at Baptist and CARTI for their service to Eileen over the past few months, especially Dr. Sam Makhoul.
Eileen lived simply and believed that time spent with family and friends was always more important than anything else. She enjoyed visiting family in San Antonio, Texas, and going to the beach in Destin, Florida. She spoke fluent Spanish and was an avid reader. She loved watching NFL games especially the Kansas City Chiefs. She will always be remembered for her words of wisdom during difficult times, her positive attitude, and her generous and loving spirit.
Funeral services will be Friday, March 7, 2025, at noon, at Roller-Drummond Funeral Home, 10900 I-30, Little Rock, Arkansas (501) 455-5800. Visitation will follow the service.