Catherine Peluse

Catherine G.

Peluse

Poughkeepsie - Catherine Georgina "Gina" Peluse passed away at the age of 91 on February 15, 2015, after a colorful life.

Born in Brazil November 14, 1923, she emigrated to post-war Italy where she met and married Giuseppe Bertolozzi in the little town of Monsagrati. As was not unusual for the time, they lived in an ancient two-room house with no electricity, a well-pump in the sink for water and a fireplace to provide heat. Clothes were washed by bringing them down to the creek, where in the winter, rocks had to be thrown to break the ice first.

Moving to America in 1957 for a better life, the following year her young husband had an incapacitating stroke. She worked hard to provide for her family by cleaning offices, hand-making shirts in a factory in Poughkeepsie on Cherry St., as a coat-check girl at Nick Beni's Restaurant and Coppola's. After learning English better and then earning her G.E.D., she continued at Montgomery Ward, Western Printing, Poughkeepsie Savings Banks and ultimately the Dutchess County Board of Elections, from which she retired.

After Giuseppe passed away she married Vincent Peluse and they enjoyed years of dancing, dining, and travelling.

Active in the community, she was a member and Past President of the Italian Center Women's Auxiliary, N.I.D.O., and many other organizations.

In addition to her work ethic, she unbelievably found time to sustain a world-class garden at her home, with flowers, trees, shrubs and topiary. She was also a gourmet cook providing many notable meals for large family and social gatherings almost on a weekly basis, featuring handmade pastas, sauces with exotic spices and exquisite roasts. She had a beautiful soprano voice and at gatherings was often asked to sing popular songs of the day as well as traditional Italian songs. Walking by her house, one could often hear her singing emanate through the windows while she did her housework or was cooking. As a child she was invited to study music professionally, but her family felt it was not a proper pursuit for a young lady.

She was deeply religious with a particular devotion to the Blessed Mother. She called both Mt. Carmel Church and Vassar Temple home. She supported St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Maryknoll Missions, where she provided funds for a small chapel to be built in the wilds of Brazil.

In her later years she was well known for her watercolors of flowers, representing the refinement of the bamboo brush stroke on rice paper. In 1996 she received the "Artist of the Year Award (Individual Category) from the Dutchess County Arts Council. She was an Artist Member at Kent Art Association and Barrett House.

She exhibited extensively in the Hudson Valley as well as in a group show at the Westbeth Gallery in NYC. Many of her pieces are in private collections in the U.S., as well as abroad and she is represented in the permanent collections of Mt. St. Mary's College in Newburgh, NY, the Art Gallery in Mahoo, St. Maarten, N.A., and the Municipal Building of Massarosa-Lucca, Italy.

She is survived by Maria Luisa Blume and her husband Frederick; Joseph Bertolozzi and his wife Sheila; grandchildren Lisa Blume-Hartwell and her husband Edward; Michael Blume; Gina Blume and Rich Swawola; Sarah Bertolozzi; great-grandchildren Juliana and Serena Hartwell.

She was predeceased by her husbands Giuseppe Bertolozzi and Vincent Peluse; her parents Pasquale and Luisa (Battistoni) Lazzari; her siblings Fosca, Jose, Palmyra, and her twin, Adolfo.

Calling hours are Wednesday, February 18 from 4 to 8pm at the Michael Torsone Memorial Funeral Home, 218 Mill St., Poughkeepsie. Wheelchair access is located in the rear of the building off Vassar St.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9:30am, Thursday, February 19 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Poughkeepsie. Entombment will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

For directions or to send an online condolence or sympathy card please visit our website at www.torsonememorial.com