Elaine Angela Petito

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Elaine Angela Petito (formerly Abbott), 76, of Alexandria, Virginia, was welcomed into the loving arms of the Lord on January 5, 2023, after a long and valiant 13-year battle with ovarian cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Elaine was affectionately called “GaGa” by her grandchildren and great-grandchild. She was born in Trenton, New Jersey, to Mary and John Abbott. She graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1964, received her Associate’s Degree in Biology at Trenton Junior College in 1967, became a certified cytologist in 1968, and later completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biology at George Mason University. She married her high school sweetheart, Ferdinand (Fred) Charles Petito at Saint Michael’s Church in Trenton in 1969 and moved to Alexandria, Virginia, shortly thereafter. Elaine worked as a registered cytologist at Dewitt Army Hospital in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, for 25 years until her retirement. Subsequently, she worked for LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics.

Elaine loved to sew and crochet for her family and the community, was a girl scout leader of Troop 393 for her three daughters for 15 years, and held various positions on the Mount Vernon High School Parent Teacher’s Association. She was a die-hard Washington Redskins fan, loved vacationing with her family in the Outer Banks, cruising the European and Caribbean waterways, and spending quality time with her family and her four-legged friend “Dottie the cat.” She was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church of Mount Vernon, Virginia.

Elaine is survived by her husband, Ferdinand, her son Ferdinand J. Petito and wife Melissa of Newtown, Pennsylvania, daughter Angela (Petito) Keaney and husband Sean of Clarksburg, Maryland, daughter Katherine (Petito) Peverall and husband Phong of Lorton, Virginia, and Mary (Petito) Leon and husband John of Woodbridge, Virginia; her 11 grandchildren, Jamie (Petito) Brown, Erika (Petito) Jerminski, Kermit Farrow, Mineman 3rd Class Brandon Farrow, U.S. Navy, Thomas Farrow, Ferdinand R. Petito, Gabriella Farrow, Violet Peverall, Joshua Leon, Dexter Peverall, and Lily Elaine Leon; her great grandchild, Brynley Brown; sister Monica Brandbergh; and other relatives. She is predeceased in death by her parents, John and Mary, and grandson Gabriel Farrow.

A celebration of life gathering for Elaine will be held on January 10, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Cunningham Turch Funeral Home, 811 Cameron Street, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314. Church services will be held on January 11, 2023, at 1 p.m. at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 8710 Mount Vernon Highway, Alexandria, Virginia, 22309. Donations can be made in her memory to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.