Lorraine Mary Colesante Petrella
September 4, 1923 ~ July 18, 2014
Lorraine Mary Colesante Petrella was called to her heavenly home on July 18, 2014, to join her first husband Adolph Paul Colesante who died July 20, 1977, and her son Michael William Colesante who died July 11, 1989. Pinky as she was fondly known to her family and friends died peacefully at Weirton Medical Center surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous four year battle with cancer.
She was born in Tiltonsville, OH on September 04, 1923, the sixth of seven children of Michael Charles Ogle and Marie Claire Druart Ogle who preceded her in death. Her brothers Charles and Raymond Ogle, and sisters Dorothy Stengel and Marie Funk are also deceased. Her second husband Lawrence Petrella whom she married in 1986, died in 2009.
While an infant, her family moved to Weirton, and she often boasted that she lived in three houses on the same street for 86 years.
As a young bride, she worked at Weirton Steel to support the war effort and some years later in retail. But, it was for her skills at home she is remembered. An excellent baker, she was proud of her first place win for her mother's potato bread in the Weirton Daily Times Cookbook Contest. Every holiday fortunate recipients feasted on her nut bread and sour cream nut rolls. She learned to make homemade sauce, meatballs, and pasta from her mother-in-law Paolina Colesante who later admitted that "Pinky's was better" than hers! She loved her children and always said, that once you became pregnant, God put an indelible stamp on your heart with one word: Mother, and you never ceased to worry, no matter how old your children were.
As a grandmother, she delighted in her two granddaughters and was a fair and equitable judge of their talent and beauty pageants. She created three fictional pets and wrote about their adventures that paralleled the girls' growing years, and on Christmas 2011 and 2012 she presented them with the closing chapters!
She enjoyed traveling and testing the integrity of the red white and blue "sevens" slot machines at casinos, especially Mountaineer and The Rivers. She often beat them! Her grocery list for her daughter always ended with "don't forget my scratch offs."
She leaves to celebrate her life, her daughter Elane and Paul Renzelli of Wintersville; son John Paul Colesante, Steubenville; beloved granddaughters Cara Renzelli, and Maria Renzelli, both of Pittsburgh; sisters Evelyn Chafin, Weirton; Geraldine (June) Friedman, Gotha, FL; sister-in-law Helen Colesante, Weirton; several nieces and nephews; special friend Phyllis Troia, Weirton; and her cherished grandcats, Spriggan, Junior and Isabella whose daily antics made her laugh through the pain.
Family and friends will be received Monday from 3pm-8pm at the Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main St. Weirton. A Funeral Liturgy with Mass will be celebrated 10:00AM Tuesday at St. Paul Catholic Church, Father Larry Dorsch celebrant. Interment will be at St. Paul's Cemetery. There will be a vigil service Monday evening at 7:30pm in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Church, 140 Walnut St. Weirton, WV 26062 or the American Cancer Society in Memory of Michael William Colesante.
Elane and John and family. My deepest condolence in your loss. But it is heaven’s gain and you will always have such fond memories. When I visited her when she was in the hospital, she always had such a strong Faith in God. She loved life and she loved her family. She will be missed until we all attain our eternal reward.
This is June, Pinky’s little sister. I’m so upset at my dear sister’s passing but know she’s with God and no longer in pain. I’ll miss our phone calls when we used to reminisce back to our childhood and all the talks we’ve had about “everything elseâ€.
I love you Pink and I’ll miss you terribly!
We’re very sad to hear of my Aunt Pinky passing.
I will always remember how impeccable my Aunt dressed … her
outfits and accessories, she was always on point. My husband Tony and I remember going to West Virginia with my mom (Geraldine Friedmann) and eating Aunt Pinky’s homemade pasta and sauce … delicious. You could really feel the love she put into cooking and creating wonderful meals.
I remember when she came to visit the three of us in Florida. We all had such a memorable time. When Tony and I came home from work, we found the two sisters (Pinky and June) just talking and talking. It was really a joy to see.
Aunt Pinky, As God holds you in His arms, He comforts you and has taken away all your pain.
In recent years I have spent a little more time with Aunt Pink,as I have taken her sister Evelyn to visit . She had a warm and wonderful personality and outlook on life. Her home was relaxing and decorated so lovely,with Dave Barnhouse Paintings of downtown Steubenville and Weirton in the DAY. I enjoyed her Pizzelle’s and she gave me her recipe that I use to bake them at the holidays. She cut her favorite funny’s from the comic section of the newspaper and put them in a small album on her table for company to enjoy, We will miss you Aunt Pink,Rest Peacefully and our Love,Prayers and Strength to the Family.
Lonnie,Christine,Shelby and Jacob Wade
Elan, John Paul & family, your Mom (our Aunt Pinky) was so kind and thoughtful. She always made me feel like part of the family, after Kenny & I married. She will be missed, but she is at peace now. May God Bless each of you as you heal from your loss.
With love and prayers,
Kenny and Darla (Cookie)
Elaine and John you have my deepest sympathy at the loss of your Mom. I\’ll always remember her when we were growing up and I still come across her recipes in St. Joseph The Worker Cookbook.
during the time of the service I sat here at my home in mn. and thought of what a lovely service it would be and of all that were there. thinking of many rememberances etc. our aunt pink was so special. she I know is telling God what a nice suit he h