Obituary of Bebe C. Petito

Bebe (Carolyn) Chianese Petito, 97, of Lawrenceville, passed away peacefully on Saturday April 9, 2022 at Penn Princeton Medical Center of Plainsboro, NJ. Born in Trenton, Bebe was a resident of Lawrence Township for the past 65 years. She was the daughter of the late C. Chester Chianese, MD, and Catherine Fenech Chianese of Trenton. She graduated from Trenton Central High School in the Class of 1942. Bebe then attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she was granted her undergraduate degree with the Class of 1946. In 1949, she married the love of her life, Robert A. Petito, with whom she was happily married for 66 years until his death in 2015. They were the parents of three children: two sons and a daughter. She is survived by her son Robert A. Petito, Jr.; her son Christopher S. Petito and his wife, Sue B. Petito; her daughter Catherine Petito Boyce and her husband, Jon Boyce; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Robert M. Petito and his wife Zujeil Flores, John W. Petito and his wife Jane Petito, Lucia Petito and her husband Mark Levin, Christopher B. Petito, William Petito, Tessa Boyce and Molly Boyce; her four great grandsons, John, Henry, Sian Luca and Axier-Gael Petito; her great granddaughter Beatrice Petito-Levin; her special nephew Christopher N. Garruba; her special niece Patricia Epifanio; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. A deeply caring person, she was the heart of her loving family; she cherished and nurtured many friendships, and touched many lives. In addition, she contributed to her community, e.g., by serving on the Board of Education of Lawrence Township and on the board of the Visiting Nurses Association of Central New Jersey. A memorial service for Mrs. Petito will be held at a date and place to be announced in the future. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that expressions of sympathy be made by a charitable contribution to the Children’s Home Society of New Jersey or the Visiting Nurse Association of Mercer County.