Karla M (Giordano) Petrino passed away on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, at the Hershey Medical Center, due to Covid-19 related complications, with her devoted husband, William, and daughter, Lauren, by her side.
Karla was born in Bradford PA, on Feb. 4, 1951, to the late Anthony and Elizabeth (Anderson) Giordano. She attended Bradford Area Schools, graduating from Bradford High in 1969. She worked at Dresser MFG right out of high school in the Executive Offices. She left for Harrisburg in 1972, where she started her career as a clerk typist for the Department of Revenue and, in 2008, retired as a Tax Appeals Specialist after 35 years. Throughout her career, she received two Secretary of Revenue Excellence awards. William “Bill” and Karla met at the Revenue Department. They were together for 50 years, married on Sept. 6, 1975, in Bradford, PA, and celebrated 45 years this past Sept.
She was a member of the Palmyra Holy Spirit Church, where she volunteered for events, including the yearly fish fry, summer festivals, and veteran programs. She was part of the collection counting team, which met on Mondays and was also a member of the Senior Spirit Club, which met monthly for breakfast, where her passion was decorating. Karla was always looking for ways to brighten the community. After Christmas, Bill and Karla would gather the church service poinsettias and take them to nursing homes and schools for others to enjoy!
Karla had a compassionate heart for people and animals. Karla was described as a kind and caring person by all. She touched the lives of everyone she knew. She gave generously to multiple animal groups. If you were sick, she’d be knocking at your door with homemade food, or, if you needed a hand, she was the first to help. She gave much of her time during Lauren’s years in school, helping with plays and dances. Karla and Bill visited Lauren almost every weekend in college, even if they weren’t attending cheerleading or an event she was in. She was a member of the Red Hat Society, where she made new friends and traveled. She loved Annalee dolls, decorating, sewing, and cooking. Karla had many friends she spent time with and leaves a huge void for many.
In addition to her loving husband, Bill, and daughter, Lauren, she is survived by her siblings, Nancy Giordano Bess, of Bradford, and her daughters, Lori Bess Wike, and Amy Bess Graves, and Don, and her great-nephew, Nathan Wike, her sister, Mary M. Jones, of Harrisburg, her brother, Joseph L Giordano, of Tennessee, and her brother-in-law, Sebastian Petrino, and wife, Donna, of Palmyra, their daughter, Traci Petrino, and son, Michael Petrino, and wife, Shanni, as well as her great-nieces and nephews, Mike, Sebastian, Christian, Makalya, and Vinnie Petrino, all of Palmyra. She also has numerous aunts and cousins who survive her.
Her two fur babies, Molly and Bailey, who miss her tremendously, and her grandpup, Bryce, survive.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 245 W. Pine St., Palmyra, PA 17078 at 11:00 a.m. There will be no viewing. Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Interment has yet to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Karla’s memory may be made to any veteran groups, animal rescue groups, specifically, The Harrisburg Humane Society, or CUDDLY Pet Rescue, 909 Electric Ave., Suite 208, Seal Beach, CA 90740. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.FinkenbinderFamily.com
