Peggy Sue Kissner “Neritti”

Peggy Sue Kissner, known to many as Neritti, was born April 7, 1944 to Eleanor (Kissner) and Sydney Hunt in Cleveland, OH.  She was a spunky woman who was briefly married and had a daughter with Gerald O’Shaughnessy, yet decided to live more of an independent life that did not follow the stereotypical housewife path, or anything stereotypical for that matter.

She chose to engage herself in things that had a purpose greater than her own and was passionate about many movements including civil rights, labor unions, alternative health care and women’s liberation.  She participated in the Texas Farmworkers March, completing the entire walk from Texas to Washington DC in 1977 and she continued to advocate for justice her whole life.

Peggy was a healer, licensed in acupuncture and herbology with a doctorate degree in Oriental medicine and her practice helped many people in ways that were not conventionally recognized at the time but have since become mainstream.  A strong part of her identity was derived from participating in and teaching spiritual growth workshops in women’s empowerment and goddess mysteries.

Peggy constantly did what called out to her, which often included traveling abroad to experience new cultures and meeting new people around the world, she loved connecting with people. She could find the beauty in everything and was a true artist creating in fashion, dance, poetry, ceramics, photography, film, collage, painting, performance, and production.

For the past five years she lived at Friendship Manor in Isla Vista, where she continued her healing arts and extensive writing.  She died on February 9, 2023, after spending many weeks receiving exceptional compassionate care at Serenity House with her family continuously at her side.  She is survived by her daughter Christy, son-in-law Chris, and her three granddaughters Shaunessy, Kaylia and McKenna Grant.

Donations can be made to Serenity House in memory of Peggy.