Bessie Petruzzelli, 93, of Freehold passed away on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Manhattan, she was raised and lived her whole life in the Bronx before moving to Freehold earlier this year. She was a cafeteria worker at the Crawford Day Care Center, Bronx for 10 years until her retirement in 1988. The last three months of her life were spent in Wedgewood Gardens, Freehold Township where she was the life of the party. Bessie enjoyed singing and dancing and experienced a new found love of arts and crafts. Her favorite song was New York, New York by the late-great Frank Sinatra and favorite character was Bettie Boop. Living her life for her family, Bessie will best be remembered as a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
She was predeceased by her husband, Michael Petruzzelli in 1987; son, Vincent Petruzzelli in 2005; son-in-law, Peter Oraboni in 2001; and grandson-in-law, Brian Robinson in 2002. Bessie is survived by her daughter, Katherine Oraboni of Freehold; three granddaughters, Nadine Battaglia and her husband, David of Point Pleasant, Michele Robinson of Brick, and Denise Wildman and her husband, Keith of Freehold; four great-grandchildren, Josh Battaglia, Jack Wildman, Kate Wildman and Ryan Wildman; and siblings; Marie Lupica of Lodi, NY, Anthony Lupica and his wife, Eleanor of Saddlebrook, NJ, and Rose Mitaro and her husband, Dom of Harve de Grace, MD.
A visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524) Freehold Township on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 for procession to her 9:00 AM Funeral Mass at St. Catherine of Siena Chapel, 1 North Main Street, Farmingdale. Entombment will follow in Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, NY. For those who desire, memorial contributions in Bessie’s name may be made to St. Jude children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.

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