Angelica Marietta (Petrella) Bevilacqua

Angelica Marietta Bevilacqua, 89, of Boardman, formerly of Girard, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Saturday August 30, 2014. Angela was born September 2, 1924 in Briar Hill, the first born of Domenic and Sabina Clement Petrella, and lived in this area all of her life.  Angela's mother died when Angela was a teenager and she then took over the role of homemaker for her father and her younger brother, Jimmy.

She spent her entire life cooking, baking, and homemaking, and teaching others her secrets and sharing recipes.  Everyone thought her bread, pizza, wedding soup, and sauce and meatballs were the best in the whole wide world, and no one had a cleaner house.

When she was seventeen she met Felix Bevilacqua and they fell in love. Later he went off to war and she wasn't sure she would ever see him again. Before D-Day her future father-in-law, Luigi, brought her a package; it was an engagement ring from Felix. On September 2, 1945, her 21st birthday, her prayers came true and she found he had safely returned when he announced his arrival by throwing pebbles at her window. It's a love story that lives on in the family.

With the war over, they were married on December 1, 1945.  They spent 68 years together happily raising their family in Girard. Angela was a devout Catholic and taught her family by example how to have faith and pray daily. When her husband left for work each day, she stood at the window crossing herself in prayer. She was a faithful daughter, wife, mother, sister, and friend, and always helped anyone who needed her assistance with caregiving, many good meals, and her famous waffles.

Angela was a member of St. Rose Church, its Senior Citizens group, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus, Girard Counsel, and for many years she was a volunteer for the Red Cross as well as being a donor of many much-needed gallons of her own.

Angela leaves her daughters, Mary Louise (Patrick) Carlon, with whom she resided; Patricia (James) Brown of Jackson, Michigan; and son Ronald (Shawnee Spicer) Bevilacqua of Hudson.  She leaves eleven grandchildren, Dina Maiorana (Ben Barnes) of Columbus; Angela (Josh) Bloniasz of Suffield, Connecticut; Joseph Maiorana (Erin George) of Columbus; Anthony Maiorana (Julie Sincich) of Girard; Joy Maiorana of Boardman; Keith Brown of Eaton Rapids, Michigan; Kristopher Brown of Adrian, Michigan; Elise (Ryan) Berndt of Chicago; Christian Ambrose (Kristen Etzler) of Tennessee; Natalie Bevilacqua of Columbus; and Nathan Bevilacqua of Hudson.  She also leaves twelve great-grandchildren.

She leaves her brothers, James Petrella of Boardman; Andrew (Millie) Petrella of Girard; and Sam (Dahlia) Pagano of Girard; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Joe and Stella Comichisto of Florida; and sister-in-law Mary Bevilacqua of Florida.  Besides her parents she is preceded in death by her husband Felix, who died June 17, 2014; step-mother Mary Petrella; brother Guy Pagano and his wife Irene; sister-in-law Dolores Petrella; and brother-in-law Pasquale Bevilacqua.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, September 1st, 12:00 PM at St. Rose Church. The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday from 11:00 AM until the time of service at the church.  Angela will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery.  The family requests any material contributions be made to Hospice of the Valley.  Visit www.blackstonefuneralhome.com to view this obituary and to send condolences to the Bevilacqua family.