Published in the July 23, 2018 edition
READING — Joseph F. Petrillo, of Reading, known to his friends as “Joey P,” passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 18, 2018, at Mass General Hospital in Boston.
Joe was born on December 6, 1956 in Boston to the late Gennaro and Angela (Lombardo) Petrillo. He lived in the North End and East Boston, which he was always proud to tell you. He had fond memories of hanging out with all his cousins especially playing stickball in the neighborhood.
Joe’s family moved to Wakefield when he was in his early teens. He quickly made lifelong friends at Wakefield High where he lettered in three sports as a freshman and later graduated from Austin Prep. Joe had a successful career working as a skilled mason and Labor Foreman for M.J. Skully & Company in Wilmington.
Joe married his beloved wife of 28 years Theresa (DeLuca) Petrillo and they settled in Reading to raise their family. Joe was a devoted and proud father to their sons Evan and Tyler. He enjoyed sharing his passion for baseball with his sons by coaching them in Reading Baseball Leagues and spending countless hours playing catch in the backyard. As a family they relished their time together at Long Beach in Rockport.
While Joe loved sports, having played in the Cape Cod Baseball League and golfed professionally, time with his friends and family was most important. Joe was gregarious and outgoing and was admired by all for his kindness and love of a good story. He was a strong, passionate, loving man and a reliable friend that could always be counted on to help in any way.
In addition to his wife and sons, Joe is survived by his two brothers; Robert Petrillo and Richard Petrillo both of New Hampshire, his sister Jeanne McFadden and her husband William of New Hampshire, his three nieces: Jacqueline Petrillo, Lauren and Stephanie McFadden and his nephew Steven McFadden.
Visiting hours for relatives and friends will be at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Wednesday, July 25 from 4-8 p.m. His funeral Mass will be held at St. Patrick’s Church, 71 Central St., Stoneham on Thursday July 26, at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Lakeside Cemetery in Wakefield.
