Bernardo (Bernie) Petrone, 94, of 59 Federal Street, Agawam, died peacefully in his home on Monday morning surrounded by his children and grandchildren. He was born in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania on March 23, 1931, to Carmine and Carmina Petrone (Santaniello), Italian immigrants from Bracigliano, Italy. He relocated with his family to Enfield, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts over the course of his childhood before being drafted into the army in 1953 at the tail-end of the Korean war. He served state-side for two years as a wheeled-vehicle mechanic and was honorably discharged on April 20, 1955. He married his late wife, Lydia Chistolini, in 1957 and had lived in Agawam ever since, supporting his family as a rigger for M.J. Manning and as an assembler for UTC, among other professions, before retiring several years ago.

He is preceded by his wife, who passed in 2011, and all of his seven brothers and sisters, including: Dorotea (Dot) Swenson, Asunta (Carm) Donahue, Victor Petrone, Annie Joiner, Earl Petrone, John Petrone, and Gloria Petrone.

He leaves behind four children and their spouses: Judith Brunelle and her husband Michael of Agawam; Celeste Fersch and her husband Kenneth of East Granby, Connecticut; Bernard Petrone and his wife Mary (Ingari) of Westfield; and Michael Petrone and his wife Kelli (Scovill) of Enfield, Connecticut, along with 25 grandchildren and great-grandchildren

Visitation will be held between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23rd at Agawam Funeral Home, 184 Main Street, and will be directly followed by the funeral service. Committal will be held privately for the family. All friends and family are welcome to attend the service.