Joan R. Pettrone

Joan R. Pettrone, 69, formerly of Averill Park, NY, passed away Saturday, March 5, at her home in Hudson, MA, with her husband and three daughters by her side. Joan was married to Mark J. Pettrone; they had celebrated 44 years of marriage. Joan is survived by her husband Mark, her brother Wes Rivel, her three daughters Kate (Eric) Morse, Ann (Brenden) Gilmore, and Abby (Doug) Kellogg, as well as her nine grandchildren: Maddie (7), Piper (5), and Sam (2) Morse; Lauren (7), Emily (5), and Caroline (4) Gilmore; and Olivia (4), and John and Chloe (both 10 months) Kellogg. Joan was an enormous part of all of their lives, known as “Nonni”.

Joan was a voracious golfer and an integral part of the Burden Lake Country Club golf community. Joan continued bringing people together to form close golf friendships when she moved to Hudson, MA, in 2019.

Joan was a registered nurse, working at Pond View Pediatrics in East Greenbush, NY, for many years, and then as the school nurse at Miller Hill Sand Lake Elementary for 16 years. Joan was a significant presence in the Averill Park school community - leading extensive social work and donation support for many families in need. Joan was also a dear friend to her fellow teachers, staff and district nurses.

Born in 1952 in Brooklyn, NY, Joan was the daughter of Helen and Bob Rivel. Joan graduated from high school in Westfield, NJ, and attended Middlebury College in VT. She completed the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital nursing program in Boston, and continued on to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

Joan made a significant impact on the lives of so many through her constant ability to bring out the best in others – defining what it means to be a deep friend and loving mother. She will be dearly missed.

The family is planning a memorial celebration in April. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan’s name can be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute (10 Brookline Place West Brookline, MA 02445 or 617-632-3019).