John Petrillo

WALLINGFORD - John Petrillo, 92, left his earthly home to reside in eternal peace, Sunday September 4, 2011. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Rose Victoria Marcucci Petrillo, who died in December, 2009. Mr. Petrillo was born in Cusano Mutri, Province of Benevento, Italy, April 13, 1919, a son of the late Pasquale and Clementina Leone Petrillo, and arrived in the United States of America at age 7. He was a lifelong resident of New Haven, where he served as a volunteer for the Atwater Senior Center and was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Church. A proud Veteran of World War II, he served his country in the U.S. Navy as a Seaman First Class, with the 53rd Naval Construction Battalion, and was the recipient of the Victory Ribbon, American Theatre Ribbon, and the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon. On November 18, 2009, he received a service award from Secretary of State, Susan Bysiewicz in recognition of his service and courage, patriotism and sacrifice during World War II. John was a carpenter by trade, specializing in residential and commercial buildings, and worked for Ira J. Taft and Secondi and Sons. In his earlier years, he was a milkman, when milk was delivered to the home. John was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, who liked to watch John Wayne movies and baseball, with the New York Yankees, as his favorite team. He enjoyed playing card games especially, pinochle, and poker, and puttering in his vegetable gardens. Vacations with his wife included New York, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and their favorite State of Hawaii, where they visited three times.

He is the father of Linda N. Houle and her husband, Jeffrey, of Wallingford, Marianne, (Sgt. Richard F. Miller NHPD) Petrillo, NHPD Ret., and John A. Petrillo and his wife, Denise, all of New Haven. He leaves one grandchild, Roseanne Rodican of New Haven; a brother, Dominic "Dixie" Petrillo of West Haven; several nieces and nephews; grandnieces, grandnephews, great grandnieces; and great grandnephews and many furry grandkids-canines and felines. He was predeceased by his daughter, Rosemarie Petrillo; his sister, Eleanor, Corbin and her husband, Libby; and his brother, Anthony "Tony" Petrillo.

His family will receive relatives and friends in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main St. Ext., Wallingford, Wednesday, September 7, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 8, from The Wallingford Funeral Home at 10 a.m., when the funeral cortege will proceed to Most Holy Trinity Church, 68 North Colony St., Wallingford, where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment with military honors will be in All Saints Cemetery in North Haven. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be sent to Fisher House, c/o VA Medical Center, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT. 06516.
www.wallingfordfh.com