Obituary of Catherine Sophie Petro

Catherine Sophie Petro, 90, formerly of 50 Norton Ave. and Frederick Blvd. West Ellicott, passed away at 2:53 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2017, in the Lutheran Home and Rehabilitation Center. A lifelong area resident, she was born May 28, 1927 in Jamestown, NY, a daughter of the late Gust and Kristina Kotsaquis Spero. Cathy was a 1946 graduate of Jamestown High School where she was an honor graduate and Secretary of her class. She was also very active serving on her high school reunion committee. Before her retirement in 1988, she was employed as a Secretary in the admissions office of WCA Hospital where she worked for 26 years. In earlier years she had worked for the Prudential Insurance Company for several years. She was a longtime member of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church where she was active in the Ladies Erene Society, was Recording Secretary for the St. Nicholas Fellowship and taught Sunday school for many years. She was also a member and trustee for the Chautauqua Court # 38, Order of the Amaranth, a member of the 100 Member Club of Jamestown High School Alumni Association and the Society of Masonic Widow's. In previous years she was a member of the Business Girls League of the Jamestown YWCA, past Secretary of the Kappa Sigma Society and was a volunteer at the Jamestown Boys Club, the Jamestown General Hospital and a crusader for the American Cancer Society. She served as an election inspector for the Town of Ellicott for 15 years and was formerly active in the local and national Parent Teacher Association. Surviving are her two children, Dr. George R. Petro of Binghamton, NY, Cherie L. (Jason) Hansen of Lakewood, NY, three grandchildren, Natalie (Rick) Kress of Bemus Point, NY, Sonja (Andrew) Benchley of Fredonia, NY, James R. (Lauren) Petro of Binghamton, NY, three great grandchildren, Kylie Kress, Gavin Kress, Reed Benchley and a sister, Violet Kianos of Jamestown. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband James George Petro whom she married October 28, 1951 and who died February 6, 1988, a brother Col. Paul G. Spero and a brother-in-law James Kianos. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday in St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The Rev. Jarrod Russell, pastor will officiate. Burial will be in the Lake View Cemetery. Friends will be received from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday in the Lind Funeral Home where a Trisagion Prayer Service will be led at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, P.O. Box 264, Jamestown, NY 14702-0264.