Obituary of Jay Petro

Schenectady/Lake Placid Joan (Jay) Petro 91, passed away on June 29, 2024. Born January 13, 1933, in Little Falls, NY, to Mary (Palumbo) Harrington and John Harrington, gracefully departed this world, leaving behind a legacy of love, generosity, and adventure. Proud of her Italian and Irish heritage, Jay brought the best of both cultures to her family and friends, especially through her exceptional culinary skills. Family dinners at Jay’s were cherished events, filled with warmth and delectable dishes, where she reveled in organizing every detail. Jay discovered her love for travel after High School, spending time in Europe and then the Western Rockies. She always was up for a trip, be it skiing, sailing, or just wandering. This was especially so when it involved good friends, good food, and skiing. Jay met her husband, Don, while on one such ski trip in New Hampshire in 1959. She and Don married in 1961 and lived their best lives together for 50 years. She and Don raised two rambunctious boys and ran two businesses. Jay and Don were benevolent to all, welcoming into their home various exchange students, random animals and anyone else who needed a meal and place to stay. Jay set the example as a generous soul and never hesitated to lend her time and resources to anyone in need. Jay’s interest in travel inspired her to become a travel agent, helping others see and experience the world while she globe-trotted through Europe, Asia, and Oceana. She would drop what she was doing when any opportunity arose to travel with old friends or to make new ones. Jay loved being on the move and she delighted in sharing her travel experiences with others. Jay was both a Ski Instructor and a Pioneer in the ski industry, producing hand-knit wool ski hats to help support the family’s skiing endeavors. Her army of knitters would distribute the iconic Jay Hats to ski shops throughout the Northeast. If you’re lucky and you still have a Jay Hat, you understand. Bartering hats for skis and other various equipment, including family season passes, as a benefit of instructing made it possible for four Petros to spend every winter weekend sliding happily in the Adirondacks. Most weekends one or two neighborhood kids would pile into the car and make the trip north to Minerva jammed in the way-back of the Vista Cruiser, sharing space with the dog and the duck, Jack (the Quack), for the opportunity of a lifetime….ski Lessons from Jay and Don at the North Creek Ski Bowl. Jay lived for those times, and for those memories. Jay fell in love with Lake Placid while volunteering during the Olympics in 1980, spending every summer afterward on the lake, and braving the brutal winter wind of the Whiteface Summit lift well into her 70’s. It was truly her favorite place on earth. She was a longtime member of the Lake Placid Garden Club and her gardens were the envy of many. If there were to be a Heaven on Earth for Jay and Don, it would be the home they carved out of the hillside there. Her faith and involvement in the Church were the cornerstone of her life. She taught catechism at St. John the Evangelist and St Helen’s church and faithfully served on many committees at both perishes. Jay was predeceased by her father John, Brother Jack, Mother Mary, Husband Don and Son Alec. She is survived by her son Matthew (Amy), daughter-in-law Leah, her 5 Grandchildren: Christian, Grace, Benjamin, Sara and Hanna Petro, and her ski 9 license plate, passed down to the next generation. She will be remembered as a good and faithful Christian, friend, mother and grandma. Calling hours will be Monday July 8, 2024, 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Daly Funeral Home, 242 McClellan St., Schenectady. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, 9:00 am at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church, Union St., Niskayuna. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.