Rita Joan Petruziello

Rita Joan Petruziello, 91, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, entered into the arms of her Savior on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026. Known affectionally by her family as “Grandma Wee,” “Aunt Wee Wee,” and “Mommo,” she will be missed by all.

Rita was born on November 27, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York. She often told stories about her early days living there with uncles, aunts, and cousins close by. 

Rita received her RN and associate degree in Nursing from Brooklyn College, followed by her Bachelor of Science in Nurse Education from New York University. She was Acting Operating Room Supervisor and Operating Room Clinical Instructor at Beth El Hospital in Brooklyn, New York from 1961-1962. From there, she continued her career as a registered nurse at Pratt and Whitney United Aircraft, and as an Instructor of Nursing at Kings Park State Hospital. Her greatest work was as a mother and homemaker raising her four daughters before returning to nursing years later as a Nursing Lab Instructor at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Rita was a talented artist and painter, enjoying arts and crafts of all kinds. Over the years, she provided a loving home to many cats, and they were all her faithful companions. One of her favorite past times was shopping, and she had a particular skill for bargain hunting. She enjoyed old time movies and music with her favorites being Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. She was without a doubt Elvis’s number one fan.

Rita was known for cooking huge Italian meals for the holidays including chicken parmigiana and homemade manicotti. Traditional Italian Easter bread and frittata were Easter favorites made from scratch every year. Rita had a sweet tooth, and everyone who knew her, knows desserts and candy wouldn’t last long.

Rita was a woman with a strong faith in God and had a devotion to the Divine Mercy and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She also had a devotion to the Blessed Mother and prayed the Rosary daily during the 3 o’clock Holy Hour. 

Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Anna; her sister Mary Ann; and her daughter, Kristin. Rita is survived by her daughters, Gina (David) Moore, Victoria, Christa Blackman, and Marla (Paul) Poterack; three grandchildren, Alyvia, Andrew, and Madeline, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial and celebration of life will be held in New York later this spring.