SOUTH CASCO — Lea “Sissy” A. Smith-Petersen, nee Ahlemeyer, 62, of South Casco, passed away on Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, at home.

She was born on July 4, 1950, in Jersey City, N.J., to Frank and Lea Ahlemeyer.

Lea “Sissy” is a hard person to put into words. She lived life on her own terms. She started living on her own terms from a very young age. She led a tumultuous life that stretched to extremes. If she cared for you as a friend or a loved one, you knew it. She lived and loved with the same level of passion and intensity. She would and did give her last dime for what she cared for. Her intuition about the complexities in life was extraordinary to those closest to her. She would be your biggest fan in life. She saw magic in her loved ones that no one else could see. No one ever made me feel so important, or ever will.

Lea’s grandchildren are the most amazing people and that started with her.

She showed what sacrifice for love looked like, and real truth in a world that lacks that kind of pure truth. On the other side, she showed what not to do by doing it. She lived hard and some learned in the end that you can have one without the other. We learned that we can have that intuition, passion and intensity without always having such extremes. This is the gift, the tools she gave to be the parents and people we needed to be. And our children are her legacy. Thanks Ma, we’ll miss you. You were truly one of a kind. No one will ever forget you. How could we?

She is survived by her husband, George Smith-Petersen; along with his son, Andy Smith-Petersen; daughter Carrie Tanguay; two grandchildren; her mother, Lea Ahlemeyer; three sons, Robert Ahlemeyer of Buxton, Steven Dubowik of North Waterboro and Edward Ahlemeyer of South Casco; a brother, Edward Ahlemeyer of Waldoboro; five grandchildren and five nieces and nephews.

Lea’s father, Frank, and brother, Frank, preceded her in passing.

Arrangements are by Hall Funeral Home, Casco.