Bala Cynwyd Middle School Mourns Teacher Cecilia Peterson

Bala Cynwyd Middle School teacher Cecilia Peterson has died, the school district announced Monday on its website and in a letter to staff and student families.

Peterson, 44, died Friday at Abington Hospital, according to her obituary by Angelone Funeral Home in Abington.

A letter from BCMS principal Margery Andersen described a "positive and welcoming" teacher who had been with the school since 2001. Peterson taught seventh grade.

"Ms. Peterson’s joy for life and her love of teaching could be seen daily at Bala Cynwyd," Andersen wrote. "In her classroom she was always excited and expressive about the literature and topics that she was teaching her students."

In an online "guestbook" of memories about Peterson, one student wrote, "she was a teacher that taught me to push myself forward, and to show the world that i could achieve great things", while another wrote, "Ms. P inspired me to do things I thought I could never do. She's a huge loss to all of those who had known her and BC will never be the same without her."

Peterson is survived by her parents, sister, niece and two nephews.

On Thursday, there will be a 9 a.m. viewing and 10 a.m. funeral service at St. James Church, 8320 Brookside Road, Elkins Park, followed by an 11:30 a.m. burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 3301 W. Cheltenham Avenue, Glenside.

The district announced that counseling for students may be arranged by calling (610) 645-1918 or contacting their school counselors directly.

Please share your memories of Ms. Peterson in the comment box below.