Gertrude "Trudy" Petillo (Neel) of Verona, N.J. passed away on Thursday, January 12, 2023 in the view of the same Blue Ridge Mountains where she was born nearly 97 years ago.
Predeceased by her beloved husband, Gus, her son, William (Bunky) and her granddaughter, Faetra, she is survived by her loving children, Donato Petillo, Paula Petillo Gorney (Michael) and Michael J. Petillo (Helen), her cherished grandchildren, Dean, Danielle and Nicolas Petillo, (Claudia), Michael John and Justin Gorney, Christina and Michael Augustino Petillo, and her beloved great grandchildren, Damon, Jordan, Luke, Sawyer and Gia. She was a loving caretaker to all, young and old, family and friends.
Trudy was born in Zenith, WV, and grew up on the Neel family farm, where she worked in the fields as young as 7 years old. She moved to New Jersey in the early 1940’s and married the love of her life in1944. In 1955 the Petillo family settled in Cedar Grove where strong community ties remain to this day. Trudy was an accomplished seamstress, running a successful business from her home. In 1970 she went to work at Old Deerfield Fabric and Screen Printers as Executive Assistant to the company president until she retired in 1990.
She was a member of St. Catherine of Siena Cedar Grove parish and was deeply committed to her Catholic faith. Trudy was also a founding member of Cedar Grove Elks Lodge 2237, where she served as the first president of the Ladies Auxiliary and several more times thereafter; a member in good standing right up to her last days.
Trudy loved to cook and bake, especially her famous cheese cake and chocolate Christmas cookies. One of her great pleasures in life was to see her family gathered together sharing food, laughter and love.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 from 5 - 8 p.m. at Shook's Cedar Grove Funeral Home, 486 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, N.J. A Funeral Mass is planned for Wednesday, January 18, 2023, 10:00 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena RC Church, 339 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, N.J. Kindly arrive at the funeral home after 9:00 a.m. Prayers will begin at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Bloomfield, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Trudy may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org http://www.stjude.org. and would be greatly appreciated.