Marie M. (Castellaneta) Petrocelli

Marie Michelle Petrocelli (née Castellaneta), 70, loving wife, devoted mother, adored Gaga to two grandsons and one grandcat, passed peacefully in her sleep on April 20, 2021. She had spent the days leading to her passing surrounded by her family.

Marie was born on October 21, 1950, in New York City. She grew up in Astoria, Queens, and eventually settled in Thornwood, New York. She graduated from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Masters of Arts in College Counselling and had a long career in higher education. Before her retirement in 2011, Marie worked in the Office of the Registrar at Pace University, where she was employed for 26 years and made many lifelong friends.

Marie married Joseph (Joe) on August 11, 1974, in Astoria. They lived together in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Yonkers, New York, before settling in Thornwood. Marie and Joe welcomed their daughter, Jennifer, and son, Patrick, in 1980 and 1984, respectively, growing together in the same family home they shared for 43 years.

Above all else, Marie loved her family and friends. She always checked in on the people she cared about, made sure old and new family traditions were followed, and devoted herself to the happiness and wellbeing of others. Marie will be fondly remembered by everyone who knew her for her warm laughter and sympathetic ear. In recent years, nothing gave her greater joy than reading with, telling stories to, or just being around her first grandson, Henry. In the last year, she also loved the videos, pictures, FaceTimes, and visits with her new grandson, William.

Marie is survived by her husband (Joe), daughter (Jennifer), son-in-law (Michael), son (Patrick), daughter-in-law (Erin), grandchildren (Henry and William), grandcat (Bella), brother (Eustace (Buddy) Castellaneta), sister-in-law (Evelyn Castellaneta), and countless others.

She was predeceased by her father, Nicholas Castellaneta, and mother, Rose Castellaneta (née Speciale).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sickle Cell Thalassemia Patients Network or Cooley’s Anemia Foundation.

Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2-6 PM at the Hawthorne Funeral Home. Funeral Mass, Holy Rosary Church, Hawthorne, NY on  Monday 10 AM. Interment, Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY to follow.

HAWTHORNE FUNERAL HOME

21 West Stevens Ave

Hawthorne, New York 10532

914-769-4404