Elizabeth A. Petrogallo

On Wednesday April 21, 2021, Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Petrogallo, beloved wife of the late Alfred Michael "Fred" Petrogallo, passed peacefully with loved ones at her side. She was born to the late Anthony Spinazzola and Donatina "Margaret" Spinazzola (née Ferrone) on December 8, 1927 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. 

Betty grew up in Altoona and it was there she met her one true love, Fred Petrogallo. After several years of marriage, Fred and Betty settled down, built a home and raised their family in Aberdeen, Maryland. Fred enjoyed career employment at the Aberdeen Proving Ground and together they raised their three daughters: Denise, Michele, and Janette. Betty and Fred enjoyed their children and devoted much effort to ensure they had a vast array of life enriching activities, inspiring them to pursue academics, music, athletics, travel and advanced education. Together, Betty and Fred demonstrated that family is everything and ensured their children remained close to their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and more distant relatives. Those family relationships evolved over decades and continue to provide their daughters with a loving extended family that provides them with unconditional love, joy and strength. Betty and Fred remained key figures in their daughters lives once they left home and built lives of their own. Together, they were devoted to their grandchildren and supported them throughout their lives, from seemingly endless babysitting, attending their varied extra-curricular activities (concerts, dance performances, gymnastics, sports events, school-related events, etc.) and so much more.

Elizabeth’s career began as a bookkeeper for the A&P grocery store chain in Altoona and ultimately led to her working for the Harford County Public School System. Following her retirement in the late 1980s, she and Fred moved to Columbia, MD, where they could be closer to their three daughters and grandchildren. Betty remained an active member of her church (St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church) and the community for over 25 years. Betty was a prolific and talented artist, who created works of art through a variety of media: oils, watercolor, clay, etc., that her family will cherish and display in their homes for decades to come. Beyond painting, she was a masterful tap dancer as she and her dance troupe, the Golden Girls, entertained numerous groups throughout the community. She built many close friendships throughout the decades spent at the Florence Bain Center and was an active participant in their vast array of activities, concerts, travel and more. Throughout her life, Betty demonstrated a curiosity that transcended her age. She enjoyed life to the fullest and approached each day with boundless energy, joy and verve. Family and friends will fondly remember her dashing around town in her burgundy Buick with two flags waving from her back windows (the American Flag along with the Baltimore Ravens flag) sporting her custom license plate that truly encapsulates the manner in which she lived: LUVNLFE 

Elizabeth "Betty" Petrogallo, beloved wife of the late Alfred M. "Fred" Petrogallo, is survived by her three daughters: Denise M. Petrogallo, Michele C. Pearlman (husband Steven) , and Janette P. McAnallen (husband Stephen) ; her five grandchildren: Jason Pearlman (wife Michele), Jody Pollara (husband Josh) , Ross Pearlman ( Nadine Gyllhamn) , Caitlin Negahban (husband Sina) , and Connor McAnallen; her three great grandchildren: Natalie Pearlman, Ryan Pearlman and Enzo Pollaro; and her dear brothers: Richard "Dick" Spinazzola and his family and Donald "Don" Spinazzola and his family.

A Mass of Christian Burial and interment will be held on Noon, May 6th, at St. John the Evangelist Church in Wilde Lake. Due to COVID restrictions, attendance will be very limited, as this mass will also serve as the weekly Noon mass for the parish parishioners. 
 
If you do not regularly attend this weekly noon Mass, please contact Betty's daughter, Janette McAnallen, to reserve a seat.  She can be reached at 443-980-0703. Alternatively, for those wising to participate virtually, the Mass will be live streamed from the St. John's website at: https://sjcolumbia.org/streaming/

A private graveside service will be held at 1:45pm - 2:00pm at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery. To view this service please click the link below that says, "Click here to access the video".
 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Emerge, Inc., 9180 Rumsey Rd , Suite D-2, Columbia, MD 21045
 

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