Obituary of Josephine Louise Petrella

Punta Gorda, FL - Josephine L. Petrella, 99, died on Thursday December 21, 2017 at her residence surrounded by her loving family. Born in Brooklyn, New York she grew up in South Plainfield and resided in Central Jersey until her retirement to Florida in 1982. Josephine worked as a secretary for Johnson and Johnson when first married then left the work force to raise her four children. She returned to work as a medical secretary for the Quality Control Division of Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals in Summit NJ. Josephine was of strong religious faith and was a past member of the Holy Rosary Society Society of Our Lady of the Mount Roman Catholic Church located in Warren, NJ and a past member of the Metuchen Country Club. She enjoyed golfing, cooking, traveling and dancing with her husband Patrick. While residing in Punta Gorda, Josephine was a communicant of Sacred Heart Parish. Josephine was predeceased by Patrick, her husband of 66 years, her sister Roseanne and brothers Alfred and Vincent. She leaves behind her children; Joseph and wife Donna of Ringoes, Daughter-in-Law Kathi of Lumberton, Mary Ann and husband Ray of Punta Gorda, FL and son Thomas of Walworth, WI. She is also survived by her brother Joseph of Scranton, PA, and by her fourteen grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren. Everyone who met Josephine took an immediate liking to her. Her smile was infectious and personality endearing. She was a woman of little complaints and always had time to listen. Her love for her family was unconditional. Making everyone happy was her strength. Josephine described the reason for her longevity was always look to the positive and surround yourself with happiness. It was pure joy to be in her company. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitatioon Friday, December 29, 2017 from 5-9PM in the McCriskin - Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080. Funeral services will be held on Saturday December 30, 2017 starting at 9:15AM in the funeral home followed by a 10:00AM Mass of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart RC Church in South Plainfield. Entombment will follow at the Holy Redeemer Cemetery Mausoleum. Please send memorial contributions to Saint Jude Hospital for Children www.stjude.org or to Wounded Warriors Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org For additional information please visit www.mccriskinfuneralhome.com