The funeral will be held on Monday November 8, in Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg at 11:00am. Calling hours will be held prior to the service from 9-11am. Burial will follow in Saint Leos Cemetery in Leominster.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Mary Ellen (Lein) Petricca, 80, of Leominster, MA, met her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, October 29, 2021, with her family by her side.
She was born on May 1, 1941, in Leominster MA daughter of Harold K. Lein and Mary (O’Malley) Lein. She lived in Leominster all of her life, graduating from Leominster High School, Class of 1959. She was employed by Borden Chemical, Foster Grant’s, Leominster Hospital, Digital Equipment Corporation and lastly Fidelity Investments as an administrative assistant.
Mary Ellen married her high school sweetheart, Leonard J. Petricca in 1963, and they celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on September 14th. Together they had four children, sixteen grandchildren, and two great grandchildren, and they were expecting a third great grandchild this spring. Mary Ellen loved her family and treasured the memories of family camping trips all over New England, family trips to Cape Cod and Wells Beach, and Sunday dinners at her house. She hosted cookouts on Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day, as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas for many years.
Lenny and Mary Ellen enjoyed many years of country partner dancing in Massachusetts and Florida. One of her greatest joys was taking her granddaughters line dancing at the Barn in Boylston, MA. She and Leonard also enjoyed many years of singing karaoke and hosting karaoke parties with friends and family.
She leaves her husband and best friend of 58 years, Leonard J Petricca. Their love story was one for the books and was a tremendous example to all of us. She leaves her son Leonard L Petricca (Lori Morrill) of Hubbardston and their three children, Nicholas Petricca (Adriana Vesovski), Kelsey Adams (Joshua), and Aaron Petricca. Her three daughters, Susan McDonald (Jesse) of Leominster and their four children, Joshua McDonald (Danielle Anderson), Justis, Jake, and Patrice McDonald. Leanne Gardner (John) of Ashburnham and their two daughters, Rebecca and Brooklyn Gardner. Kathleen Rivers (Stephen) of Lovell, Maine, and their seven children, Joseph Rivers (Madeline Haley), Lucy Warren (Donnelly), Madelyn, Samuel, Jack, Kate, and Molly Rivers. She also leaves two great-grandsons Jesse David and Jaxx Joseph McDonald.
Mary Ellen also leaves two sisters, Margaret Erdmann and her son Timothy Monaghan, and Gerry LaBerge and her daughter Robyn (John) Rouleau. Her sister-in-law Ginger (Larry) Arsenault and their children, Ryan (Celeste) Arsenault and Beth (Jon) Campagna and several more nieces and nephews.