Obituary of Sally DePetro

Sally A. DePetro, 94, a lifelong resident of Jamestown, NY, a beacon of love and tradition, passed away Sunday April 7th surrounded by the warmth of her family. Born on August 15, 1929, to the late Michael J. and Prospera "Pearl" Farnella, she was a cherished sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. Sally's life was a testament to her enduring faith and the joy she found in the simple pleasures of life. She dedicated twenty-one years to Jamestown Public Schools as a Principal Stenographer, a role she embraced with the same passion she devoted to her family. Her marriage to Arnold R. DePetro Sr. on June 10, 1950, at St. John's R.C. Church in Jamestown, was the beginning of a lifelong partnership filled with love. Together, they nurtured a family that would grow to include children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, each of whom was touched by Sally's wisdom, kindness, and her delicious Italian cooking. Sally's commitment to her community was evident through her active involvement in St. John's Church, where she served as a past president of the Altar and Rosary, provided weekly Sacristan Care, and was a Eucharistic minister. Her dedication to the Catholic faith included religious education which earned her the honor of Religious Educator of the Year in 1993. Her hobbies were a reflection of her nurturing spirit, from playing bridge with friends to tending her gardens, baking bread, and crafting pies. She took pride in daily reading of books, hand sewing quilts, and preparing special meals for her family. At the end of any day, you could find Sally relaxing on her favorite rocking chair in her screened in porch. Sally's legacy lives on in the countless Christmas cookies she made with her grandchildren and the treasured recipes she passed down through the generations. She is survived by her loving sister Josephine Farnella, who recently turned 99 and celebrated with Sally; her sons Arnold R. (Pamela) DePetro Jr. of Jasper, GA, and Jeffrey D. DePetro, her main caregiver, who she resided with; her daughters Susan D. Carlson, Michelle D. Buttafaro, both of Jamestown, and Anne (Hugh) Windom of Sarasota, FL; twelve grandchildren, Michael (Heather) DePetro, Smyrna, GA, Paige (Courtney) Baker, Washington D.C., Laura (Sam) DePetro, Atlanta, GA, Christopher (Emily) Carlson, College Park, MD, Stephen (Allie) Carlson, Jamestown, NY, Melissa (Sam) Lisciandro, Jamestown, NY, Andrew (Cioli) Buttafaro, Mokena, IL, Kaitlyn (Matt) Hefelfinger, Pittsburgh, PA, Caroline (Chris) Nigro, Sarasota, FL, Porter (Megan) Windom, Pace, FL, Grant (Amanda) Windom, Cambridge, MA, and Reed Windom, Philadelphia, PA; 13 great grandchildren, Vince, Violet, Conrad, Sloane, Bella, Sammy, Tommy, Sebby, Stella, Walker, Holden, Kennedy, and Madison with two more great grandchildren on the way. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Arnold R. DePetro Sr. who died October 17, 2000, and by a son-in-law, Thomas A. Buttafaro who died July 29, 2002. Special thank you to the staff at Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care for all of their care over the past year. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 pm Saturday April 13, 2024, in Holy Apostles Parish, St. John Catholic Church. Burial will be in the Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends will be received from 4-6 pm Friday, in the Lind Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Apostles Parish and Chautauqua County Hospice & Palliative Care, organizations that were close to Sally's heart. You may leave words of condolence at www.lindfuneralhome.com.