Catherine Stebbins Peterson, 71, of Freeport, Maine, passed away on November 29, 2025.

After a courageous battle with cancer, she passed into the “big blue” as she called it, peacefully

at home with her family and friends by her side.

She was born April 5, 1954, in Lynn, Massachusetts to Jarvis Stebbins and Julia Stebbins (nee

Lampster). The family moved to Cape Elizabeth when she was a child and then later to

Yarmouth after her high school years at Cape Elizabeth High School. Catherine, or Cathie as

she was know by most, also graduated from Colby Sawyer College.

Cathie was so very passionate about her family, friends, animals, music, and art, and her life

echoed these passions. She was on the music scene in New England from the early 1980s as

a soloist and in various music groups such as Tonto’s Big Idea, Bait the Hook, and Freefall. Her

joy was being able to get to know and play music with so many of Maine and New England’s

talented musicians. Accomplished in guitar, piano, and percussion she also excelled as a

vocalist earning her Maine vocalist awards. She was interviewed on the “Today Show” by Jane

Pauley for her song honoring Maine’s Samantha Smith, and has graced many a stage and

opened for musicians such as Arlo Guthrie, Blood, Sweat & Tears, the Pousette Dart Band, the

Outlaws, and Livingston Taylor to name a few.

Her art life began to bloom later in her career as she developed a passion for fiber and wool and

water colors. Influenced by Maine artists such as the Wyeth family of artists and Dahlov Ipcar,

Cathie was honored that Dahlov referred to Cathie as her doppelgänger. Cathie had a unique

talent for creating art using wool fiber as her medium. Much of her artwork was on display at

the Saltwater Artists Gallery and River Arts Gallery. Supporting her fiber passion that also

included spinning her own fiber, were her four alpacas and occasional rabbits. Dogs and cats

also surrounded her through the years.

The ocean and outdoors had a special place for her. Spending many summers on her father’s

classic wooden boats traveling along the coast of Maine. Spending time in the outdoors with

her family, gardening, camping, family summers on Long Island, and many sunsets and

campfires. She was passionate about supporting her community with music and was the

impetus for the Winslow summer music series that she helped manage for over 15 years. She

loved the children of Freeport and was a substitute teacher for 10 years supporting the Freeport

school system.

Cathie is survived and will be lovingly missed by her husband, John Peterson, children, Melissa

Leva-Peterson and husband Ivan Leva-Peterson, and Ben Peterson, and brother Charlie

Stebbins and Chris Pekar. Her nieces and nephews, Sarah (Mark), Ethan, and Robbie. In

addition to her chosen family which is too numerous to name.

A celebration of life will be held at Mount Apatite Farm in Auburn Maine on June 6th 1-6pm (Rain date June 7th). This

location holds special memories of great music, wonderful food, friends, family, balloon festivals,

and Melissa’s wedding.

Please RSVP to the following link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAkGjgfvTV1ZP0ZvUSQQItB4VJFcMrRZzlqN27mG904kPSIw/viewform