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planted in memory of Viola (Mantoni) Petrolati
Obituary for Viola (Mantoni) Petrolati
Viola (Mantoni) Petrolati, of Ludlow, passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 22, 2021 at the age of 99, with her son by her side. Born in Wilbraham, daughter of the late Joseph and Esterina (Gobbi) Mantoni, she attended public schools in the area and graduated from the former ClassicalHigh School in 1941. After High School, she wanted to attend the Rhode Island School of Design to pursue her artistic talents but the cost was prohibitive for the family.
Viola was a longtime resident of Ludlow where she was a faithful communicant of the former St. Mary of the Assumption Parish and currently of St. Elizabeth Parish. She was also a devoted participant and benefactor of the Ludlow Senior Center where she spent much of her time. Viola was the beloved wife of 75 beautiful years to the late Victor Joseph Petrolati who predeceased her in 2018; a devoted mother to her loving son Victor Petrolati Jr. of Arlington, Virginia; and a dear sister to the late Jack Mantoni and Rose D’Agostino; as well as many loving nieces and nephews and their families as well as extended family members.
In early life, Viola worked for a few years as a secretary at Chapman Valve but spent many years as a devoted housewife bringing up her son in the house that she and her husband designed and have lived in since 1956. Viola had many interests in life that she actively pursued including art, cooking, aerobic exercise and dressmaking. She was active in several Art Leagues, attended many classes on water colors and oils taught by local artists and exhibited her art whenever she could. She took home first place ribbons and monetary awards from many of the local art shows. More importantly, many of her pieces are proudly displayed in the homes of her family and will be a lasting memory of her legacy.
Viola was an excellent cook who specialized in many Italian recipes and experimented with all types of cooking. Her spaghetti sauce was considered the best by everyone who tasted it. When asked if she would share her recipe, she responded that she prepared her sauce by taste alone. When requested to write down each of her steps, she produced 10 pages, with 3 pages devoted strictly to the meatballs. Gnocchi was her specialty pasta. It was hand made and tasted incredibly light for pasta made with potato. Porchetta, an Italian pork dish served with a crispy skin, was also one of her old time recipes that she prepared and shared with the family and was often part of the Thanksgiving feast. However, lobster was her favorite meal but even this was prepared Italian style.
Viola and her husband were members of the Springfield YMCA for over 95 combined years were they both enjoyed many forms of exercise. Viola’s favorite activity was swimming and in her 80’s, she was still able to swim an easy mile in the pool at a pace that was faster than most.
Viola also enjoyed being a seamstress and making many of her own outfits. Her burial dress was one of her own creations.
Much of her additional time was spent on sports, movies, dining out, travel and family. She loved watching the Red Sox but her favorite sport to watch was golf. In Virginia in 1994, she attended the first day of the first played President’s Cup, an International competition between the US and countries other than Europe. She saw Phil Michelson as a first time member of the US team in this event but Tiger Woods would become her favorite golfer. When Tiger was on the TV screen all other activities stopped. One of her favorite travels was her only trip to Italy in 1992 on her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband and son. She and her husband had only spoken Italian as children but were still able to converse with the many relatives on both sides of the family that they met and visited for the first time in the Marche region.
Spending time with family was easily her favorite activity. She always reached out with birthday cards and presents no matter how distant the family member. She was beloved by her family and by many who have met her and will be deeply missed by all. Funeral services for Viola will be held on Saturday July 3, 2021. Visitation will be from 10:15-11:15am in Ludlow Funeral Home with Liturgy of Christian Burial at 12:00pm in St. Elizabeth Parish followed by burial in Island Pond Cemetery. Donations may be made in Viola’s memory to The Ludlow Senior Center (www.friendsofludlowseniorcenter.com)
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Viola was a longtime resident of Ludlow where she was a faithful communicant of the former St. Mary of the Assumption Parish and currently of St. Elizabeth Parish. She was also a devoted participant and benefactor of the Ludlow Senior Center where she spent much of her time. Viola was the beloved wife of 75 beautiful years to the late Victor Joseph Petrolati who predeceased her in 2018; a devoted mother to her loving son Victor Petrolati Jr. of Arlington, Virginia; and a dear sister to the late Jack Mantoni and Rose D’Agostino; as well as many loving nieces and nephews and their families as well as extended family members.
In early life, Viola worked for a few years as a secretary at Chapman Valve but spent many years as a devoted housewife bringing up her son in the house that she and her husband designed and have lived in since 1956. Viola had many interests in life that she actively pursued including art, cooking, aerobic exercise and dressmaking. She was active in several Art Leagues, attended many classes on water colors and oils taught by local artists and exhibited her art whenever she could. She took home first place ribbons and monetary awards from many of the local art shows. More importantly, many of her pieces are proudly displayed in the homes of her family and will be a lasting memory of her legacy.
Viola was an excellent cook who specialized in many Italian recipes and experimented with all types of cooking. Her spaghetti sauce was considered the best by everyone who tasted it. When asked if she would share her recipe, she responded that she prepared her sauce by taste alone. When requested to write down each of her steps, she produced 10 pages, with 3 pages devoted strictly to the meatballs. Gnocchi was her specialty pasta. It was hand made and tasted incredibly light for pasta made with potato. Porchetta, an Italian pork dish served with a crispy skin, was also one of her old time recipes that she prepared and shared with the family and was often part of the Thanksgiving feast. However, lobster was her favorite meal but even this was prepared Italian style.
Viola and her husband were members of the Springfield YMCA for over 95 combined years were they both enjoyed many forms of exercise. Viola’s favorite activity was swimming and in her 80’s, she was still able to swim an easy mile in the pool at a pace that was faster than most.
Viola also enjoyed being a seamstress and making many of her own outfits. Her burial dress was one of her own creations.
Much of her additional time was spent on sports, movies, dining out, travel and family. She loved watching the Red Sox but her favorite sport to watch was golf. In Virginia in 1994, she attended the first day of the first played President’s Cup, an International competition between the US and countries other than Europe. She saw Phil Michelson as a first time member of the US team in this event but Tiger Woods would become her favorite golfer. When Tiger was on the TV screen all other activities stopped. One of her favorite travels was her only trip to Italy in 1992 on her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband and son. She and her husband had only spoken Italian as children but were still able to converse with the many relatives on both sides of the family that they met and visited for the first time in the Marche region.
Spending time with family was easily her favorite activity. She always reached out with birthday cards and presents no matter how distant the family member. She was beloved by her family and by many who have met her and will be deeply missed by all. Funeral services for Viola will be held on Saturday July 3, 2021. Visitation will be from 10:15-11:15am in Ludlow Funeral Home with Liturgy of Christian Burial at 12:00pm in St. Elizabeth Parish followed by burial in Island Pond Cemetery. Donations may be made in Viola’s memory to The Ludlow Senior Center (www.friendsofludlowseniorcenter.com)
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Previous Events
Visitation
Saturday
3
Jul
10:15 AM
- 11:15 AM
Ludlow Funeral Home
432 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Funeral Liturgy
Saturday
3
Jul
12:00 PM
St. Elizabeth Parish (St. John the Baptist)
181 Hubbard Street
Ludlow, Ma 01056
Cemetery Details
Location
Island Pond Cemetery
499 Center Street
Ludlow, Ma 01056
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