WATERBURY- On the beautiful fall morning of November 2, 2015, A. Lena (Padula) Petrucci passed away. While she is no longer with us in body, her amazing spirit shall live on through the people she touched during her 97 years in this world. Lena was born on October 28, 1918 in Waterbury, Connecticut, and lived in Town Plot her whole life. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Michael Petrucci; her brothers Gerald, Nicholas, and Mariano; her sister Agnes (Padella); and her parents Mariano and Angela Marie (DeZinno) Padula.
Lena was a peaceful soul who thought kindly of everyone, and who loved her family more than anything. All will remember gathering at her house, sometimes crowded into the living room for a holiday meal, other times simply sitting in the kitchen for a quiet visit with tea and cookies. Lena was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, and spent time volunteering for the feast, singing in the choir and playing bingo on Thursday nights. Throughout her long life, Lena had many hobbies and interests, including pitching softball, bowling, crocheting, crossword puzzles, and soap operas. She liked to bake, and her family enjoyed her famous pumpkin roll, Easter bread, and Christmas cookies. Like her heart, Lena’s refrigerator and cookie jar were always full.
Lena’s family will miss her dearly - daughter Marylee Holihan, her husband Richard, and their children Kim and Michael; daughter Phyllis Ruman, her husband Erich, and their children Christine and Lisa; son Michael Petrucci, his wife Cynthia (Boccardi), and their children Michael and Marcie, daughter Angela Baker and her husband Lauren (Larry) Baker; son Richard Petrucci, his wife Melanie (McCandless), and their children Robin and Michaella; and daughter Elizabeth Miller. Lena also leaves behind six grandchildren in-law, nine great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
The family thanks the nurses and aides at Middlebury Convalescent Home and Seasons Hospice who cared for Lena in the final months of her life.
Arrangements- A Mass of Christian Burial for Mrs. Petrucci will be held 10 A.M Friday November 6, 2015 at St. Patrick’s Church, 50 Charles St, Waterbury, CT 06708. Burial will follow in the State Veterans Cemetery, Bow Lane, Middletown. Calling hours will be held at church from 9 A.M until the funeral mass starts at 10 A.M. The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Waterbury is assisting with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.