Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and good friend, Patricia A. Petracco, died peacefully at home on Monday, April 15, 2013 following a courageous two-year battle with cancer. She was born in Jersey City to the late Loretta and John Mulligan and moved to Roselle Park in her early teens. She graduated from Roselle Park High School, attended Newark State College and later earned her Bachelor of Science and Master's degrees in Business Administration from Georgian Court University, Lakewood. Pat and her family moved to Jackson Township in 1968 then to Howell Township in 1972, where she has lived for the past 41 years.
In addition to her full-time role as a mother, Pat had a successful career that spanned 40 years and was extremely active in her community. Most of her career and community service were dedicated to children and education. For ten years, Pat was a pre-K teacher at Pinewood School, Lakewood; then worked for the New Jersey School Boards Association in Trenton for 20 years as a School Policy Consultant before retiring in 2003. Following retirement, Pat founded and operated a private school policy consultation business until 2012. During her career, she was elected and served on the Howell Township Board of Education for eight years (1976-1983), serving as Vice-President and two years as President (1980-1983).
Travel with family and friends and photography were some of Pat's favorite pastimes. Over a 40-year span, she was able to photograph places and people from all over the world and beautifully chronicled the lives of those she loved in photos. Among her favorites were pictures of her grandchildren from the moment of their birth to the many fun activities she shared with them-from simple playing in the yard to outings at the beach, rides at Great Adventure, their first NY Yankees game, and trips to Philadelphia, New York City, Disney World and a cruise to the Bahamas. And, of course, the annual Thanksgiving Day feasts and Easter egg hunts have all been preserved for history.
She will be missed by her loving husband of 50 years this June, Robert; three daughters, Cheryl Petracco, Pamela Maxwell and her husband James and Jessica DeWysockie and her husband Frank. She also leaves behind four precious grandchildren, Cameron, Connor, Christian and Chelsea Maxwell and two step-grandsons, Owen and Wyatt DeWysockie; a sister, Loretta Malina; and a brother-in-law, Peter Petracco and his wife, Mair. In addition, there are nieces, nephews, and their children as well as many wonderful friends who will feel her absence.
About a year and a half ago, a quilt was lovingly given to a dear friend whose mother was in a very courageous battle with cancer, in hopes, as with all of our quilts, that it would bring her comfort, love, faith and hope. Very sadly, the cancer ultimately took her life one year ago, 4/15/2013 leaving so many loved ones behind. The quilt provided her a great amount of comfort and joy in her toughest moments, so much that her family included it in her eulogy.
The quilt was passed down to her three daughters who used it to feel close to their mom in their deepest time of sorrow. The story could have ended there, but the love of these sisters for their mom, and for each other, thought of a new use for their mother’s quilt. One week prior to the anniversary of their mother’s passing, the youngest sister used her mother’s quilt during her very long and difficult labor with her first child!
We know her mother’s spirit was with her on that special day, but the added touch and feel of her mother’s quilt providing physical comfort as well is touching beyond words. In a span of a year and a half, this simple quilt has touched three generations in periods of struggle, sorrow and the ultimate happiness of a precious new life.
In loving memory of Patricia Petracco.
