Peter P. Petrianni

Peter P. Petrianni

Peter P. "Papa" Petrianni, age 88, of West 28th Street, formerly of Harvard Road, died Sunday, December 13, 2009 at his home after a brief illness.

A lifelong resident of Erie, he was born August 15, 1921, a son of the late Paul and Josephine Berti Petrianni. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He owned and operated Markhams Music for 35 years and worked as a professional musician. He was the youngest musician to perform with the Erie Philharmonic. He served as a senior member of the Blessed Sacrament Usher's Society and was a member the Southwest Erie Lions Club. He enjoyed golfing and playing poker. He was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather and his family always came first.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his sister, Loretta Ferrare and his brother-in-law, James Ferrare.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years. Mary Jane F. Gentile Petrianni of Erie; one daughter, Patricia Mahan and husband Jim of Fairport, NY; two sons, Paul D. Petrianni and wife Connie of West Springfield, PA and Peter P. Petrianni II of Erie; one daughter-in-law, Karen Petrianni of Erie and seven grandchildren, Sean Mahan and wife Ann, Brendan Mahan and wife Jill, Megan Barry and husband Jon, Lindsay McShane and husband Michael, Danielle Petrianni, Peter P. Petrianni III and Paul Jude Petrianni. He is also survived by five great grandchildren, Isabella, Dylan, Avery, Jake and Julia and many nieces and nephews.

The Petrianni Family will be receiving family and friends on Thursday at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1626 West 26th Street, at 9am until the Memorial Funeral Mass there at 10 am. Memorials may be made to the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, 1001 State St., Erie, PA 16501. The John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, is handling arrangements.