Tullio A. Petri

Tullio A. Petri

Tullio A. Petri, age 91, resident of Sarah A. Reed Retirement Center, died Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at Saint Vincent Health Center after an extended illness.

He was born December 25, 1919 in Bientina, Province of Pisa, Italy, a son of the late Mario and Maria Bertini Petri. He came to the United States at the age of six. He served in United States Army as an instructor at Ft. Benning, GA before entering World War II; where he served in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a Purple Heart and Bronze Star Recipient. Tullio had worked for the Erie Times News as a printer for 40 years, retiring in 1989. He had first worked for the New York Daily News. He was a former member of the Erie Maennerchor Club, Zukor Club and the East Erie Turners. He was also an avid Yankees Fan.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his sister, Tosca Knickman.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Nila C. Tempestini Petri of Erie; two nieces, Elaine Caputo and Joan Mantle both of Long Island, NY and a brother-in-law, Dan Tempestini and wife Mary Ann of Erie. He is also survived by many cousins and dear friends.

Friends are invited to call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and may attend a service there on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at Saint Paul RC Church, 1617 Walnut Street, at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Sarah A. Reed Retirement Center, 227 West 22nd Street, Erie, PA 16502 or to the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, 130 West 8th Street, Erie, PA 16501.