Charlotte Pitrella

Charlotte Pitrella

Newark "Charlotte Pitrella, 75, died Monday (July 24, 2006) peacefully at her home on Woodside Drive.

Friends may call from 4 " 8 PM on Wednesday (July 26, 2006) at the Paul L. Murphy & Sons Funeral Home, 127 East Miller Street, Newark. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Peter Clifford at 10 AM on Thursday (July 27, 2006) at St. Michael's Church, South Main Street, Newark. Burial will be in Newark Cemetery.

Memorials, in Charlotte's name, may be made to St. Michael's School, 320 South Main Street, Newark, New York 14513.

Charlotte was born in Newark on December 30, 1930, the daughter of Stephen and Theresa Marro Pitrella. After graduating from Newark High School, she attended Brockport State. For two years, Charlotte taught fourth grade at St. Michael's School. She then joined Sister Joyce to form a two-person department teaching language arts to seventh and eighth graders. In 1968, she was appointed vice-principal of the school and along with her teaching duties pursued the completion of her own education. She received a B.A. in English at Nazareth College in 1969 and continued her studies to earn a Masters in Education and later completed the requirements for an advanced degree in administration. In July of 1980, she became the first lay principal of St. Michael's School, a position she held until her retirement in 1993. In her retirement, Charlotte became the Liturgy Coordinator at St. Michael's Church. A communicant of St. Michael's Church, she was a Eucharistic Minister and a team member of the Martha Ministries. Charlotte was also a member of the Rosary and Altar Society, the Legion of Mary and the Scared Heart Mission Club. An ardent theatre lover, she was a member of the Newark Players where she was a director, actor, and worker on all phases of its productions. She was member of the Wayne County Historical Society and the Sons of Italy.

Charlotte will be remembered by many cousins, especially Janie (Val) Valentino of Geneva, Carole (Donn) Iddings and Theresa Urban of Newark, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, many friends and former students, staff at St. Michael's and her caretakers.