Hilda Maria Petullo

Born May 13, 1931 in Saranac Lake, New York to Mildred Marquay of Saranac Lake and Antonio Castellon of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Preceded in death by husband Anthony Thomas Petullo (Tony, 11-15-1926 to 11-22- 2012). Attended grade and high schools in Saranac Lake, New York. Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from the College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, New York, with studies at The Sorbonne in Paris, France. Post-degree employment included secretarial duties at the New York City offices of Lancôme cosmetics and the French Ambassador to the U.S., and service as a flight attendant for Pan American Airways' routes between New York, London, Paris, Lisbon, Stockholm, Helsinki, and Johannesburg South Africa. Having met him on a flight from New York to Paris, and after subsequent dates in both cities, Hilda married Anthony Petullo on Halloween, 1959 at Our Lady of Mercy church in Forest Hills, N.J. Hilda loyally and lovingly supported Tony; maintained a neat, efficient household; and proudly raised three sons in locations that for Tony - in addition to his business trips to Europe, Japan, and the Middle East - included Karachi Pakistan, New York City, Chicago Illinois, and Houston Texas. Hilda accompanied Tony in retirement to Louisville Kentucky until after Tony's death, where she relocated to Shrewsbury Massachusetts near son, David.

Family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances fondly remember Hilda for her many beautiful qualities:

• Steadfast in faith, and daily practice of her Catholic faith through the sacraments and Rosary.

• Faithful and loyal wife and mother.

• Respectful and affectionate in her expressions of love to her husband, sons, and extended family.

• Kind, gracious, and forgiving.

• Teacher and model of Christian virtues and morality.

• Close friend, confidant, and active listener to the end of life. Encouraging to her sons, extended family, friends, and to anyone she met.

• Simple, elegant, and reserved; and lived within the material means she possessed.

• Having only met him on a flight to Paris, she courageously accepted Tony’s invitation to a first date.

Hilda is survived by sons Marc Petullo (Margaret Shank) of Cincinnati Ohio, David Petullo (Sara) of Sterling Massachusetts, and Steven Petullo of Bristow Virginia. Hilda is survived by grandchildren James Petullo, Joseph Petullo, and Lillian Petullo of Sterling Massachusetts; and by grandson Reed Shank (Andrea and great-granddaughter Isla Reed Shank of Waverly Ohio. Hilda is also survived by nieces Palmira Taylor of Lake Frederick Virginia, Nancy Leepo of Lincoln Nebraska, and Teresa Walter (Howard) of Havre de Grace Maryland, and by nephew John Gonzalez (Julie) of Chesapeake City Maryland.

Visitation for Hilda will be held at Saint Albert the Great Catholic Church, Louisville, Kentucky at 10:00 am on Tuesday August 19, 2025. A Mass of Christian Burial will commence at 11:00 am on Tuesday August 19, 2025 at Saint Albert the Great Catholic Church, followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery, Louisville Kentucky. In lieu of flowers, remembrances for Hilda should be submitted either as a Mass Request or a monetary donation to Saint Albert the Great Catholic Church, or as a monetary donation to The Marian Center, Louisville Kentucky.