Agnese Petrillo

Agnese (Vitale) Petrillo, 77, of West Orange, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2022.

Agnese was born on April 27, 1945 in Prata, a principality and medieval village of Naples, Italy. Beginning from her childhood, she lived a humble life, sewing clothes for her handmade doll (later bringing that joy to her two granddaughters) and running the family deli business under the discretion of her mother. She married at seventeen years-old and in one year gave birth to her only child. In 1966, she immigrated with her son and husband to America where they settled in Orange, NJ. She surrounded herself with family and friends, caring for children in the neighborhood and serving homemade cuisine with an abundance of love. In her later years, she dedicated her life to educating young children as an assistant at Aquinas Academy Preschool, where she was frequently visited by her granddaughter who was studying to become a teacher. Agnese organized the celebration of Annunziata, a commemoration from her hometown, and had a lifelong devotion to God.

Devoted wife of sixty years to Mario Petrillo. Devoted mother of Amato Petrillo and his wife Josephine (Marino). Cherished grandmother of three: Gabriella (with her fiancé James Melnick), Alessandra (with her husband Kristopher Bianconi), and Mario. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Agnese was predeceased by her parents Luigi and Antonietta (Berardino) Vitale and her brother Antonio Vitale. 

Visitation at the Leonardis Memorial Home, Inc., 210 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park on Tuesday from 4-7pm.  Funeral on Wednesday assembling at the funeral home at 9:30am followed by the funeral mass at St. Philomena’s Church in Livingston at 10:30am.  Entombment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

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