Kathleen R. Petrone

Kathleen Twenhafel Petrone Kathleen Twenhafel Petrone passed away Sunday, February 15, 2015 at the age of ninety three. She was born at home on the family farm on January 23, 1922, in Mercedes, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents, Katherine Brixen Twenhafel and Albert Frederic Twenhafel; her husband, Emile John Petrone; and her brother, Erwin Albert Twenhafel. She is survived by her sister, Helen K. Vogel; sister-in-law, Mildred Twenhafel; her six children: Jim and Dorothy Petrone, Cathy and Joe Burriesci, Bob and Margaret Petrone, Joan and John Coode, Steve and Janice Petrone, and Theresa Petrone; her grandchildren: Michael and Rosemary Petrone, Emily Petrone, Nick Petrone, Christina and Ian Murray, Stephanie and Brian Hopper, Nicole and Joe Galletta, Rob and Alycia Petrone, Claire and Mark Speight, Matt and Rachel Coode, Tony and Becky Coode, Gina Coode, Emile Petrone, John Petrone, and Mark Petrone. She was loved by her twenty great-grandchildren. Kay’s family was among the first families to settle Mercedes, Texas in the early 1900’s. Her parents left relatives in Illinois and Wisconsin to become citrus farmers in the Rio Grande Valley. Kay grew up as a farm girl, but she left the Valley at age sixteen to attend Texas State College for Women in Denton, Texas. After two years at Texas State, Kay transferred to Texas University at Austin. There the pretty brunette was named “Bluebonnet Girl”. At nineteen she bravely traveled alone by train to Chicago to continue her studies in clothing design. Kay lived with a Lutheran family while studying at the Chicago Academy of Art. At a tea dance for naval midshipmen, Kay met Chief Petty Officer Emile Petrone who was stationed at the Great Lakes Training Center during World War II. Kay and Emile were married in Nashville, Tennessee on June 5, 1944 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation. They were married for fifty one years. Kay was a busy mother of a large family, but she and Emile loved to entertain their many friends in Nashville and Knoxville. They moved to the newly developed Deane Hill subdivision in 1961. They livened up the neighborhood with parties and the many activities of six busy children. Kay enjoyed entertaining friends, family, and business associates at the Petrone home on Cresthill Drive. Kay was active in AKima Club of Knoxville and Deane Hill Garden Club. She was an avid gardener, a painter, a terrific bridge player, and a good bowler. She was a member of Deane Hill Country Club, Cherokee Country Club, Fort Loudon Yacht Club, Sarasota Yacht Club, and Longboat Key Club. Kay and Emile were long time supporters of the University of Tennessee football team, organizing many away game trips for neighbors and friends. They traveled extensively in the United States and Europe. Kay loved her church, and she was an active member of Grace Lutheran for fifty years. She was a dedicated supporter of the Knoxville Museum of Art. In Sarasota, Florida Kay served as a volunteer at Longboat Key Center for the Arts for many years. The family would like to thank the staff at Fort Sanders Hospital for their excellent care and concern. Jim, Cathy, Bob, Joan, and Steve would particularly like to thank their sister, Theresa, for her loving care of their mother over the last several years. The Family will receive Friends from Wednesday 5:30 to 7:30 at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage chapel 6200-Kingston Pike. Funeral Service will be at 11:00 AM Thursday at Grace Lutheran Church 9076 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville. Burial will follow at Highland Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 9076 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN. 37923, Knoxville Catholic High, 9245 Fox Lonas Road, Knoxville, Tn. 37929, and Helen Ross McNabb Center, 201 West Springdale Avenue, Knoxville, Tn. 37917.

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Kathleen R. Petrone

January 23, 1922 - February 15, 2015