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August 1, 2017
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Friday August 4, 2017 from 4-8PM at VanderMay Wayne Colonial Funeral Home 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne. Funeral services will be held 8:45AM on Saturday August 5th from the funeral home, then to St Joseph’s RC Church 216 Comly Rd, Lincoln Park where at 10AM a funeral mass will be celebrated.
Entombment will be in George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus.
Diane L. Petracca “Chiefie” (nee Walsh), age 64 of Lincoln Park passed away peacefully on Monday, August 1, 2017 while receiving the loving care of her family.
Diane was born the only child to Edward and Dorothy Walsh in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1952. Although born in Jersey City, she grew up and spent her formative years in Rutherford. She attended St Mary RC High School in Rutherford and graduated with the class of 1970.
Following her graduation from high school she immediately set her sights on a career and enrolled at Lions Institute in Hackensack where she studied to become a Certified Dental Assistant. Her first job was at the dental office of Leonard M. Kovar located in Passaic. After several years working with Dr. Kovar, the practice was then taken over by another team of dentists named Press & Berman DDS who then moved the office to Clifton. Diane continued working with them until her illness late in 2016 forced her to stop. Diane worked more than forty-six years at the same location.
As a young woman in St Mary’s High School, she would walk home from school and pass the Rutherford High School Track & Field area where the Rutherford students would run and have their meets. Day after day she saw a young man by the name of John Petracca running at the track, who would always flirt with her through the athletic field fence. Eventually, they met near the "wall"--a popular hang out spot for teenagers near a church on Park Avenue. Eventually, John got the nerve up to ask her out to the movies. They dated for a few years and, as fate would have it, they fell in love and were married on September 23, 1972 at St Mary’s RC Church in Rutherford.
Shortly after they were married, John and Diane moved to Lincoln Park. This is where they raised their two sons David and Matthew. John and Diane cherished forty-five years of loving and loyal marriage together. Throughout the years that David and Matthew were growing up, Diane was always by their side and encouraged them to participate in any and all sports they wanted. Diane was always by her children’s side to give them advice throughout their lives. Diane was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was also especially fond of her Yorkie-Poo “Meadow”, who was always so happy to see her "mommy." She occasionally enjoyed sewing and knitting in her spare time. She loved taking the time to decorate her house and also enjoyed her daily soap operas such as “General Hospital” and “Days of Our Lives.” She was fond and took pride in how she decorated her house and also of her swimming pool, which she spent many a summer day beside. She was also proud to have owned her “Dream Car,” her Lincoln MKZ. Diane had a soft spot for Atlantic City and the NJ Lottery, and an even softer spot for slot machines. She loved taking trips down to AC and to the Pocono-area casinos. Aside from all of Diane’s interests, hobbies, and talents, there was no greater love for Diane than her family. Diane touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by her family and friends alike.
Diane is survived by her husband John Petracca of Lincoln Park, two sons; Matthew Petracca and his wife Stephanie of Kinnelon, and David Petracca and his wife Diana of Wayne, two grandchildren, Natalie, and Amelia. Diane was pre-deceased by her parents Edward and Dorothy Walsh.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family on Friday August 4, 2017 from 4-8PM at VanderMay Wayne Colonial Funeral Home 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne. Funeral services will be held 8:45AM on Saturday August 5th from the funeral home, then to St Joseph’s RC Church 216 Comly Rd, Lincoln Park where at 10AM a funeral mass will be celebrated.
Entombment will be in George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus.
August 1, 2017
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Friday August 4, 2017 from 4-8PM at VanderMay Wayne Colonial Funeral Home 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne. Funeral services will be held 8:45AM on Saturday August 5th from the funeral home, then to St Joseph’s RC Church 216 Comly Rd, Lincoln Park where at 10AM a funeral mass will be celebrated.
Entombment will be in George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus.
Diane L. Petracca “Chiefie” (nee Walsh), age 64 of Lincoln Park passed away peacefully on Monday, August 1, 2017 while receiving the loving care of her family.
Diane was born the only child to Edward and Dorothy Walsh in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1952. Although born in Jersey City, she grew up and spent her formative years in Rutherford. She attended St Mary RC High School in Rutherford and graduated with the class of 1970.
Following her graduation from high school she immediately set her sights on a career and enrolled at Lions Institute in Hackensack where she studied to become a Certified Dental Assistant. Her first job was at the dental office of Leonard M. Kovar located in Passaic. After several years working with Dr. Kovar, the practice was then taken over by another team of dentists named Press & Berman DDS who then moved the office to Clifton. Diane continued working with them until her illness late in 2016 forced her to stop. Diane worked more than forty-six years at the same location.
As a young woman in St Mary’s High School, she would walk home from school and pass the Rutherford High School Track & Field area where the Rutherford students would run and have their meets. Day after day she saw a young man by the name of John Petracca running at the track, who would always flirt with her through the athletic field fence. Eventually, they met near the "wall"--a popular hang out spot for teenagers near a church on Park Avenue. Eventually, John got the nerve up to ask her out to the movies. They dated for a few years and, as fate would have it, they fell in love and were married on September 23, 1972 at St Mary’s RC Church in Rutherford.
Shortly after they were married, John and Diane moved to Lincoln Park. This is where they raised their two sons David and Matthew. John and Diane cherished forty-five years of loving and loyal marriage together. Throughout the years that David and Matthew were growing up, Diane was always by their side and encouraged them to participate in any and all sports they wanted. Diane was always by her children’s side to give them advice throughout their lives. Diane was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was also especially fond of her Yorkie-Poo “Meadow”, who was always so happy to see her "mommy." She occasionally enjoyed sewing and knitting in her spare time. She loved taking the time to decorate her house and also enjoyed her daily soap operas such as “General Hospital” and “Days of Our Lives.” She was fond and took pride in how she decorated her house and also of her swimming pool, which she spent many a summer day beside. She was also proud to have owned her “Dream Car,” her Lincoln MKZ. Diane had a soft spot for Atlantic City and the NJ Lottery, and an even softer spot for slot machines. She loved taking trips down to AC and to the Pocono-area casinos. Aside from all of Diane’s interests, hobbies, and talents, there was no greater love for Diane than her family. Diane touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by her family and friends alike.
Diane is survived by her husband John Petracca of Lincoln Park, two sons; Matthew Petracca and his wife Stephanie of Kinnelon, and David Petracca and his wife Diana of Wayne, two grandchildren, Natalie, and Amelia. Diane was pre-deceased by her parents Edward and Dorothy Walsh.
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