Obituary of James J. Petrillo

James J. Petrillo, 58, of Bruce Road, passed away suddenly Saturday afternoon at Nathan Littauer Hospital. Born in Amsterdam on January 5, 1952, he was the son of Mary Torsone Petrillo and the late Alec Petrillo. He was a 1969 graduate of Bishop Scully High School. Jim enlisted in the US Marines and was stationed on a ship in the Guadalcanal with the rank of Lance Corporal, machine gunner. He worked for a time at the Amsterdam Water Treatment Plant and for DeVito's Sunshine Gardens as a landscaper. Nearly thirty years ago, he founded the Earthworks General Contracting Company which he operated until his death. He also assisted his father in the operation of the Crosscuts Contracting. In 2005 he along with his wife opened the Earthworks Store now located in Vail Mills. Jim was a master chain saw carver and his work was well known in the area. He was a true family man and lovingly called his family "his gems". He had tremendous faith, and simply put, was a man of God. He leaves his loving family, wife Christine C. Slaughenhaupt whom he married June 20, 2003; his mother, Mary Petrillo of Amsterdam; children; Joshua Petrillo of Osceola Ind., Matt Trisha Petrillo of Ledyard, Conn., Sara Winter of Middlegrove, step children; Trenton Amber Slaughenhaupt of Great Valley, NY, Andrew Jennifer Luss of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Tarin Timothy Dowaiscz Skowronski of Kill Buck NY; grandchildren; Abrianna, Alessandra and Raphael Petrillo; Ryan and Kayli Stead; Rhea Winter; Tyler, Jayden and Jarret Slaughenhaupt and Dominick Paul Dowaisz; his brother, Alan Gayle Petrillo of Tuscan, Az., a niece Lisa Joe Mirabile of Loudonville and his former wife, Barbara Pemrick Petrillo as well as aunts, uncles, cousins and nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to call this evening Monday Nov. 22 from 4-7 pm at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue. There will be a time for sharing at 6:00pm. It is the request of the family that flowers not be sent. Memorials in Jim's name may be made to the Women's League Child Development Center in care of the funeral home office, in honor of Jim's desire to always help others.