Petrina M. (Paliotta) Parente

Petrina Mary (Paliotta) Parente, born July 11, 1940, quietly passed away on March 4, 2026, at the age of 85. She was born in Providence to Domenico Antonio Paliotta and Margaret (Sivo) Paliotta, in the heart of Knightsville, an area of Cranston RI well known for its Italian-American community. She struggled with dementia over the past five plus years and most recently developed additional medical complications that finally led to her passing.

Petrina attended Hugh B. Bain Middle School and graduated from Cranston High School East in 1958. Early in her career she worked as a hairdresser in a salon in Warwick, RI called the Beauty Nest. This is where she met her beloved husband, Paul Parente, who worked at the Gateway Barber Shop down the hall from her salon. Paul was born in Fondi, Italy on October 10, 1927, and immigrated to the United States in 1946. They were married on July 4, 1962. After spending several months in Italy for their honeymoon they came home to start their family which includes their first son Michael, daughter Lisa, and youngest son Anthony.

Once the children came, Petrina stopped working and focused on being a wife and mother until they were old enough for she to return to the workforce. That is when her career took a different path and she became an administrative assistant in the Cranston school department. Petrina was very passionate about education and youth development. She eventually played a role in alternative high schools in Cranston where she educated and prepared adolescents for the workforce. In addition, she played a similar role at Network Rhode Island. Because of Petrina’s passion and ability to develop strong bonds with the people that she served, she tended to build personal relationships leading to she often receiving letters and gifts of gratitude from the individuals that she supported throughout the years. She was very outspoken and always ready to address any injustices in her world, which led to she becoming involved in local politics and the Cranston school committee.

As a dominate female figure in her family and community, Petrina was known for opening her home for family gatherings, holidays, birthdays, and just having people over to show them love through her cooking. She was well known for her traditional Italian cuisine such as her meatballs, frittatas and, most of all, her eggplant parmesan. In addition to her expression of love through food, Petrina would frequently provide to others in other, more significant ways, often times at her own expense. An example of this selflessness is when her mother had a stroke and was no longer able to live independently. Instead of having her admitted to a facility, she brought her home and cared for her completely on her own.

In the winter of 1985 Petrina experienced and endured the unfortunate untimely death of her husband. Paul was diagnosed with kidney cancer and in less than two years, at age of 58, he passed away. During his illness he was tended to in his home by Petrina and their children. Paul’s illness and death played a significant role in defining her next 40 years and, although she never remarried, her life was full of dedicated friends and family. Over and over again, we would hear anecdotes regarding her generosity, concern for the wellbeing of others, and her frequent offerings of help. People were often times overwhelmed by her energy and laughter. Even in the final few years of her life she continued to play this role. Staff members in her facility would talk about her energetic personality and caring disposition, and would recount how she would express concern for other residents who she was worried about because they weren’t eating. Once again, she won the hearts of the people around her as she developed a circle of friends that she would talk about with love and compassion.

The dementia with which our mom suffered in the last several years of her life had an impact on so much for her and all of us. She lost her independence, her home, her ability to do so many of the things that she loved, and her capacity to remember it all. But despite the impact of this heartbreaking condition, it still was no match for her tenacity and love for life which would uncontrollably come out in beautiful ways. The manner in which she would light up with joy when she would get a visit from a loved one or a chance to get out. The excitement over a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup or a bowl of ice cream. But ultimately it was the flowers. With Spring came the blooming, and the first thing that she would notice when getting out into the world was the vibrant colors of fresh floral. When we would reach the top of the steps to my house, she would get so excited to see my neighbors blooming purple flowers that reminded her of a tree that she had and nurtured in her yard. “Oh, look how beautiful!” she would exclaim, as if seeing them for the first time. “Do you remember the tree we had in the yard?” “Of course, ‘Trina-bean, (my nick name for my mom, she would say “you know, you’re the only one who calls me that…”), we called it the snowball tree. It was beautiful because you took such good care of it.” She would remind me that purple is her favorite color. Every year, as the seasons passed, she would point out, often times with some sadness in her voice, that the flowers were losing their color, and I would remind her that they will be back next year. It is heartbreaking when we have to say our goodbyes to our loved ones, the apparent finality of it all can leave an emptiness that is difficult to endure. But if we pay attention and walk through life with mindfulness and intention, we will understand that it is impossible for people to no longer exist. The influence and impact that we have on each other lives on - this is our legacy. I will never take in the colors of a flower again without seeing my ‘Trina-bean.

Petrina is survived by her three children and her seven grandchildren, Kaylee, Evan, Colin, Talia, Nicoletta, Siena and Mikaya.

Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, March 10th, at 8:00 a.m. from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston, followed by her Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00 a.m. in St. Mary Church, Cranston. Burial will be held in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. VISITING HOURS: Monday from 4:00-7:00 p.m.