Genevieve "Honey Jean" Petersen

Genevieve "Honey Jean" Petersen, a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina, since 2021, died on January 15, 2026, at the age of 88.

She grew up in Staten Island, New York, graduated from Tottenville High School in 1954, and subsequently attended Notre Dame College of Staten Island. Later, she received a B.A. degree in English Literature from the Mount St. Agnes campus of Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland.

In 1958, she became an active member of the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, serving in their retreat and catechetical ministry. She later married Joseph Kozoh, who predeceased her, and she and Joseph have one daughter, Kimberly, currently residing in Raleigh.

Later, as a member of Community Reformed Church in Whiting, New Jersey, she served as a Deacon and Elder on the Consistory and sang in the Choir. She played baritone horn with the Woodbridge Community Band in the 1990s and sang with the Crestwood Chorus from 2004-2021. She was a published writer and authored a children's picture book, "Trotter and the Amazing Turtle Race." Her published works also include two volumes of poetry, "Sandprints" and "Sandprints at Ebbtide," as well as numerous poems, articles, and op ed pieces in the "Asbury Park Press," "The Detroit Free Press," "The Cincinnati Enquirer," and "The Crestwood Village Sun." Her employment history includes retail management, copywriting, teaching, and medical transcription.

In addition to finding great joy in singing, music, spirituality, and writing, the cornerstone of her life was her family. She cherished her beloved daughter and son-in-law, Eric, her sister Regina, and her husband, James, and her nieces Sandra and Jennifer, grandnieces and grandnephew, as well as her extended family of many friends. She cherished her Christian Faith and was a devoted member of Community Reformed Church in Whiting.