Mary Louise Petretti

Mary Louise Paul Petretti, a longtime resident of Dobbs Ferry, NY passed away on January 6, 2022, having declined in health due to an illness dating from December 2019. She was 97 years old. Born on January 11, 1924, in Richmond, RI to Anna K. Sypula of Strogowa, Poland and Jacob Paul of Olib, Croatia. Mary spent her earliest years in Rhode Island, then Florida, and her entire school years in the Bronx; having graduated night school from Theodore Roosevelt High on East Fordham Road. Mary and her husband George, were married 74 years ago in the Bronx at Our Lady of Grace Church on Bronxwood Avenue. Mary Louise was an artist, chiropractor’s assistant, health food enthusiast, herbalist, homemaker and yoga practitioner. A past member of the Ardsley Garden Club, of both the Dobbs Ferry Beautification Committee, and the Senior Center. She was an all-round animal lover and animal conservation supporter. She is survived by a daughter, Mary A. Petretti of Manhattan, two sons; Paul J. of Dobbs Ferry and George H. and daughter-in-law Deborah of Wappingers Falls. Also surviving is her sister Ann Paul Ramsey of Seguine, TX; 13 nieces, nephews, and 28 great-nieces, great-nephews. Predeceased by her husband George (aka Uncle Paulie), two sisters Mary Paul, Frances Paul Cesta, two brothers George F. and John J. Paul. In lieu of flowers, donations may in may be made in Mary Louise’s name to either one of these two local animal charities. Each of which host a feral cat Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program: 1) SPCA of Westchester, Inc., 590 North State Road, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510 (914) 941-2896 and 2) Humane Society of Westchester, 70 Portman Road, New Rochelle, NY 10801 (914) 632-2925, or 3) to a local animal charity in your area that supports TNR. Visitation was on Saturday, Jan. 8th at the Edwards-Dowdle Funeral Home, 64 Ashford Ave., Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522. The Funeral Service was held on the same day at 6:30 p.m. also at the Edwards-Dowdle Funeral Home. Mary’s ashes, along with her husband George’s, will be interred at Mt. St. Mary’s Cemetery in Pawtucket, RI 02860 this Thursday, May 12th at 2 p.m., alongside her mother Anna (Sypula) Paul and her eldest sister Mary Paul. Interment is under the direction of William W. Tripp Funeral Home, Pawtucket, RI.

Mary Louise Petretti

January 11, 1924 - January 6, 2022