Amber Rose Antonette Peterson

Amber Rose Antonette Peterson was born July 13, 1994 and passed on July 30, 2025.  Her smile could light up a room, but she was a special light to her mother April Peterson, to her “father figure,” Tim Mooney, and to her siblings Nick and Victoria Visinaiz. While Amber arrived as a foster child, she chose this family to be her own, declaring with a bright smile that she wanted to be adopted and proceeded to “bloom” through the course of her middle and high school years, amazing all with her intelligence, creativity, and kindness.  Amber also leaves behind her beloved and loving mother Daniela Maldonado and her two brothers Tony and Ray Lumpp who continued to be a major part of her life.  The biggest loss is felt by her 9-year-old daughter Charlotte; probably nothing made Amber happier or prouder than the birth of her beautiful daughter.

Although she came from a difficult childhood, she grew steadily in her studies and her volunteer work.  She was a cheerleader on and off the field, on actual cheer squads but also supportive and a leader in her several communities; she learned to play guitar; learned sign language, volunteering to interpret and perform in performances with ICODA (International Center on Deafness and the Arts); and eventually emerging as one of four Illinois students to win the full Walter and Connie Payton scholarship.  She attended Southern Illinois University, graduating magna cum laude in 3.5 years with a major in Psychology and minors in Sociology and Criminology.  Amber was nothing short of a force of nature and gave each new challenge her all.

After graduation and with a new baby, Amber moved to Colorado, where she earned a master’s degree in Criminal Justice and was awarded “outstanding graduate student” of her graduating year, from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.  She completed this work while working at the YMCA (where she later certified to teach aerobic classes) and devoting herself to Charlotte and Charlotte’s social and educational development.  With her education complete, Amber moved on to an intense career as social worker with the state of Colorado, specializing in the care of special needs children, and earning two promotions.  Even in the face of occupational burnout, Amber continued to touch many lives, fully engaged in the care that she provided, redoubling her efforts to give it her all yet again.

Amber’s Celebration of Life will be held on August 30th 2025 at 11 a.m.

at Benson Family Funeral Home, 3224 W. Montrose Avenue, Chicago, Illinois (on the corner of Sawyer and Montrose).

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Walter Payton & Connie Payton Scholarship program scholarships@paytonsproject.org (the one that gave Amber such a wonderful head start on her College studies) is suggested. The family also has a limited campaign at https://www.gofundme.com/f/Celebrating-the-life-of-Amber-Peterson for any who wish to help with the unanticipated expenses stemming from Amber’s sudden demise.

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