Catherine Petrakis

Catherine Rinaldi Petrakis, April 25, 1927 – August 10, 2021. Beloved daughter of the late Josephine and the late Carmelo Rinaldi; dear sister of the late Thomas and the late Paul.
She was proud of the fact that she was born on State Street above her fathers’ store at 917 S. State Street in Chicago. She graduated in 1942 from Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Grammar School, Chicago, Illinois. She tragically lost her father in 1941. She crowned the statue of the Blessed Mother, May 1942. Her older brother Tom was in the service and her younger brother Paul was still in school when she went to work to support her family. She lied about her age and went to work at 15 years old working in a factory making camouflage nets. Catherine married her brother Tom’s fishing buddy, Myron Petrakis on September 20, 1952. They moved to Norridge, Illinois in 1955. They were a founding family of the Divine Savior Catholic Church and School. She volunteered and helped in the new Divine Savior School Library and the Church Summerfest. She camped with the family throughout the U.S. and traveled to Italy, the homeland of her parents and to Crete Greece the homeland of Myron’s parents. Catherine and Myron also visited Hawaii and Alaska.
Cherished mother of Stephen (Jane Marie nee Mangal) Petrakis, Mary Ann (Rev. Craig Steven) Conner, Barbara Jean (nee Petrakis) Renella and her niece Regina nee Rinaldi (Gerry) Post; Loving Yia Yia to 19: her grandchildren Christina Lynn (Justin) Domanoski, Joshua Titus (Mary Heath nee Wise) Conner, Nicholas Steven (Ashley Nicole nee Valencia) Conner, Charis Elizabeth (nee Conner) Jones, Robert Frank (Jacqueline nee Yabuta-Brodrick) Renella, Jr., Christine Marie Renella, Rebecca Ann Renella and Maria Rose nee Post (Mark) Lecocq; and her great-grandchildren Lincoln Domanoski, Brantley Clay Pruitt, Isley Heath Conner, Lilly Rose Conner, Gavin Lucas Conner, Haley Catherine Renella, Elena Ann Miguel, Mikayla Andrlik, Nicholas Kamaris, Rosie Lecocq and Simone Lecocq. In lieu of flowers, donations to Mercy Home for Boys and Girls would be appreciated.
https://donate.mercyhome.org/page/12836/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=22M73SC040

Visitation Friday August 13th from 9:30 a.m. until time of funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Procession to Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside for entombment will follow. For info: 708-456-8300 or www.cumberlandchapels.com