Obituary of Katherine Petovello

Katherine Petovello passed peacefully in North Salem, NY on June 6, 2023 at the age of 99. Kay was born January 16, 1924 in Astoria, NY to the late Michael and Anna Bodnar.

A true spitfire, Kay lived her life with incredible wit and was always quick with a punchy one-liner. You could always find her cheering on New York sports teams or telling stories about Astoria pool, always with a white wine spritzer in hand. An amazing athlete herself, Kay was a professional synchronized swimmer in the 1940s performing at country clubs from Westchester to Montauk to Palm Beach, as well as performing for the Troops. She was the ping pong champion of New York City, and consistently beat her grandchildren in games of pickup basketball. Kay met her husband while working in banking and she continued her career as a bank manager while raising four children.

Kay was predeceased by her loving husband, Ronald Petovello, and her two siblings, John and Anne. She is the beloved mother to the late Ronnie Petovello, Karen (Robert) Wlezien of St. Charles, IL, Robert Petovello of Sunny Isles, FL, and Karol (Bill) Pickel of South Salem, NY. She is the grandmother of William (Liz) Pickel, Kristin (Curt) Gendron, Katherine (Dennis) Burger, Lara (Steven) Cox, Jameson Pickel, and Max Wlezien, and the great-grandmother of Quinn Gendron, Liam Pickel, and Oakley Burger.

Her wonderful life will be celebrated by a private family service.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.