Maria Angelica “Pety” Petracca, age 84 years, of New Hope, PA, died peacefully on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at home, surrounded by her cherished family.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 14, 1936, daughter of the late Livio Anzilutti and Maria Anzilutti de Vega, she had lived in New Hope for the past year, having spent the prior nineteen years in Readington Township, NJ, and before that, thirty-five years in Kenilworth, NJ.

Loyal, loving and selfless, Maria will be forever remembered as a loving wife, mother, Nonni, sister, aunt and friend to anyone she met. Her story is one based upon a rock solid foundation of love, coupled with faith and a sense of never ending hope—the same principles heard in Corinthians.

Her story begins in Argentina, where her parents instilled in her a faith that put an unwavering trust in the Lord. Coupled with hard work and determination, she always knew that she could do whatever she wanted if she set her heart on something. As a child, she learned the art of all things related to sewing and soon excelled as an amazing seamstress and overall fashionista. Her pencil drawings from her childhood reveal an intrinsic artistic ability which never faded throughout her life.

In the early 1960’s, a young and handsome boy from Italy named Antonio made his way to Buenos Aries. It was there, on a dance floor at an Italian Club, where the two would lock eyes, and well the rest is history. They would marry on January 5, 1963 and would emigrate to the United States in 1964, with only the clothes on their back looking to create a new life for themselves and their future family.

Upon coming to the United States, the couple would settle in Kenilworth, NJ, where both Maria and Antonio would work hard to provide and create a future for their daughter and son who would arrive not long after they came to New Jersey. It was both Maria and Antonio’s wish that their children have every opportunity the United States afford them, and Maria stressed to her children the importance of education as well as always treating people with kindness and respect.

Maria would find work as a seamstress, and worked at Bridal Fantasy in Avenel, NJ, and the Madeline Shrank Boutique in Westfield and Metuchen, NJ, where she was loved by her colleagues and customers alike. Her skill set was much appreciated and her family was the recipient of her skills throughout the years. She even made her daughter’s wedding gown, which she designed and sewed by hand, with every stitch being completed and sealed with love.

As her children grew and married, Maria and Antonio entered a new phase of life as she earned the title of ‘Nonni’ or grandmother. Her grandchildren were the light in her eyes and it was upon their retirement when their daughter, Alicia, would give them the news that she was pregnant with triplets! The couple soon sold their home in Kenilworth and moved in with the young and rapidly growing family to help raise the triplets, and their older brother and eventual younger sister. Maria did this without hesitation and her grandchildren all remarked that they were able to face anything without fear due to Nonni’s advice, stories, and unwavering love given to them throughout the years.

In addition to her sewing skills, her ability in the kitchen was second to none. Her chicken cutlets were famous as were her empanadas and food from all ethic backgrounds. In addition to attending church on a regular basis nourishing her deep Catholic faith, she also enjoyed watching her New York Giants play (and hopefully win), singing along and seeing Andrea Bocelli in concert, and solving all the puzzles each night on Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

Though the last several years plagued her with a rare illness, she always kept a smile on her face and warm words in her heart, and in her actions. As she closed her eyes on Tuesday evening, surrounded by her family whom she loved so much, and each of whom carries her light forward into the world, she surely heard the words of Matthew 25:23: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’

Surviving are her cherished and fiercely devoted husband, Antonio; her children, Alicia and Michael Mitrow and Anthony and Michele Petracca; her grandchildren, Nicholas, Brian, Ashley, Christina, and Isabella Mitrow, and Anthony, Michael, and Mia Petracca; her sister, Norma Mattiussi; three sisters-in-law, Vitoria Pontoriero, Carmela Petracca, and Rachele Aiello; a brother-in-law, Francesco Aiello; several nieces, nephews, and extended family; and many dear friends made around the world.

Maria will lie in repose on Sunday, August 9, 2020 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ 08822. Please note: masks are required to be worn at all times on the funeral home premises and all persons must maintain social distancing requirements. Kindly follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival.

Due to the current gathering restrictions, a Mass of Christian Burial concelebrated by Rev. Matthew Marinelli and Rev. Jerome Arthaseril will take place with only the immediate family at St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ, under the care and direction of Wright & Ford.

Burial in the family plot will take place at St. Magdalen Cemetery, North Main Street, Flemington, NJ.

Please visit Maria’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a memorial candle, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Theresa’s Church Food Pantry. Please click HERE to be taken to her personal and secure donation page. For those who wish to mail in a contribution, please do so by making a check payable to ‘In Memory Of’, noting ‘Maria Petracca’ in the memo, and mailing to: In Memory Of, P.O. Box 5472, Charlottesville, VA 22905.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”