Obituary of Hope P. Della Ratta

Hope Adele Petrosino Della Ratta of Manhasset, New York, Old Chatham, New York, and Jupiter, Florida, passed away on the morning of Thursday, February 9, 2023, after a lengthy and courageous battle with Melanoma Cancer in her Manhasset home of almost 75 years. At the time of her passing, she was surrounded by her family and caregivers with her husband John of nearly sixty years holding her hand.

Hope was born on March 10, 1938, to Joseph George Petrosino (President of American Star Cork Company and Acme Metal Cap and Closure Company of Brooklyn, New York) and Frances Olga Manganiello Petrosino in New York City, Born premature at approximately 2 pounds and little hope of survival, the hospital asked if a name was chosen. Her parents looked at each other in despair and stated that, “We must have hope”.

Hope was first raised in Jackson Heights, Queens, and attended the Garden Country Day School (now known as the Garden School). Later, she moved to Manhasset with her parents in 1950. She was graduated from Manhasset High School in 1955, Marymount Junior College, Arlington, Virginia, in 1957- during which she attended President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Inaugural Ball in January 1957, and received a degree in Occupational Therapy from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1960. She worked as an Occupational Therapist at New York Hospital in Manhattan.

It was in the fall of 1962 that she was introduced to her husband-to-be John by a mutual friend. They would be married about a year later on October 26, 1963, at Church of St. Mary, Manhasset, New York. Their love for one another was constant and they would enjoy the fruits of life with enjoyment of raising a family in Manhasset, being blessed with grandchildren and travelling across the globe often and, in particular, to the homeland of their lineage Italy which, they could never enjoy enough. One trip stood out the most a few years ago when they traveled to the Holy Land with Monsignor Francis Caldwell. They enjoyed learning about the religious history of their Roman Catholic Faith, meeting new people and daily Mass in special Churches with Monsignor.

Hope played tennis with family and friends often on the courts of Manhasset since she was a teenager at Memorial Field and the Strathmore Vanderbilt Country Club, as well as on vacation. She was also often seen in the pool doing her laps, as much as a mile at a time, and enjoyed playing bridge and mahjong with her friends. She

also was a wonderful cook and no one ever missed a good meal when visiting Hope and John.

Hope was active in the community as a member of Church of St. Mary, Manhasset, New York, for almost 75 years, a member of the St. Mary’s Rosary Society, a Life Member- as was her mother, of the Guild of St. Francis Hospital, Roslyn, New York, a Member of Plandome Women’s Club, and was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels. She also volunteered with TAAP- Tufts Alumni Assistance Program, interviewing local students interested in attending Tufts University, and often returned to Tufts for her Class Jubilee weekends. Finally, she helped raise money for the retirement home in Tarrytown, New York, for the Sisters that taught her at Marymount- the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM).

In addition to being survived by her husband John, she is also survived by her son John Peter Della Ratta, Jr., her daughter Regina Hope Della Ratta Flood (Brian) and her son Andrew Francis Joseph Della Ratta, Sr., and her seven grandchildren John Christopher Della Ratta, Sofia Grace Della Ratta, Francesca Regina Flood, Andrew Gerard Flood, Peter John Flood, Gabriella Hope Della Ratta, Andrew Francis Joseph Della Ratta, Jr. and three grand-dogs that she spoiled just as much- Apollo, Bear and Brody.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be concelebrated on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at 10:15 A.M., at Church of St. Mary, Manhasset, New York, by the Most Reverend Robert J. Coyle, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, and Monsignor Francis J. Caldwell, Pastor of Cure of Ars Parish, Merrick, New York, and Reverend John J. McCarthy, Pastor of Notre Dame Parish, New Hyde park, New York.

Hope will be interred with her parents at Nassau Knolls Cemetery in Port Washington, New York.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, 50 Wilson Park Drive, Tarrytown, New York 10591- (914)631-8872, in memory of Hope P. Della Ratta (Marymount College, Virginia, Class of 1957).