Carmela D. Petrosino

Carmela Petrosino, 89, of Staunton, wife of the late Vincenzo "Vince" Petrosino, passed peacefully into eternal rest on Sunday December 28, 2025, at Regency at Augusta in Fishersville.

Born on November 10, 1936, in Monte Sant’Angelo, Italy, Carmela lived a life shaped by faith, family, and quiet strength. From an early age, she learned the meaning of love through service. Growing up during World War II, she was the second oldest of eight children and, at a very young age, helped care for her six younger siblings. In her early twenties, Carmela embraced a bold new chapter - marrying her school sweetheart Vincenzo and moving to the United States, stepping into a country where she knew no one and spoke no English. With courage, determination, and a joyful heart, she built a new life filled with love, compassion, and unwavering dedication, shaping the remarkable woman she would always be remembered as. These early responsibilities formed the foundation of the woman she would become - selfless, resilient, and deeply compassionate.

Carmela devoted her life to her family. She was the steady presence in the home, creating a place where everyone felt welcomed, cared for, and loved. She also worked as a talented seamstress at The Fashion Gallery in Verona, sewing with patience and pride - a reflection of the care and attention she brought to all that she did.

Her kitchen was the heart of the family. Carmela expressed her love through cooking - homemade bread, cherished Italian pastries, and her famous sponge cake for church bake sales. Meals at her table were never rushed and always plentiful, filled with warmth, conversation, and an abundance of love.

Faith was the center of Carmela’s life. She was a devoted member of the Catholic Daughters and Legion of Mary, quietly serving her church and community with humility and dedication. She never sought recognition; she simply gave - faithfully, generously, and with a grateful heart.

In addition to her devoted husband, she is preceded in death by her daughter, Rose; her parents, Maria and Antonio; and her siblings, Vittoria and Giovanni.

She leaves behind her beloved son, Jerry; her daughter-in-law, Maria; her grandson, Patrick; her siblings in Italy, Raffaela, Matteo, Michele, Lena and Piera; her extended family; and many dear friends who were touched by her kindness and grace.

Her lessons - to put family first, serve others, and live with faith - will continue to guide all who loved her.

Within the last year, Carmela made a new home in Fishersville, reuniting with old friends and making new ones; she truly was at peace in the final days.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, January 2, 2026, at 12:00 PM at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Staunton with the Reverend Matthias Lusembo officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00am to 12:00pm, two hours prior to the mass. A rosary will be prayed for the repose of her soul at 11:15 AM during the visitation. A reception with coffee, tea and cake will take place in Assisi Hall following the funeral mass.

Entombment will follow at Augusta Memorial Park in Waynesboro.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Augusta Health Foundation (PO Box 1000, Fishersville, VA 22939, or online at https://ahfoundation.augustahealth.com/give-now/ - if giving online, please select Hospice – Shenandoah House).

Carmela will be remembered not just for what she did, but for who she was—a woman of faith, a caregiver at heart, and the quiet strength behind her family. Her love lives on in every life she touched and she will be deeply missed.