Ursula Marie Petillo

Ursula Maria Petillo, 87, Kingsport, went to sleep in death on July 4, 2015. She was born September 6, 1927, in Berlin, Germany, and was known lovingly to family and friends as "Nanny" or "Ushie."

Ursula immigrated to the United States in 1952 along with her three small children and settled in Bloomfield, NJ. Being of German descent and living life as a "Yankee" was not enough, so after retirement in 1989 Ursula decided to explore her "Southern" side, and she made the move to East Tennessee so she could be closer to her daughter, Gabriele, her granddaughters, Shelly and Lori and her new great-granddaughter, Danielle.

Nanny was the best Mom, Grandmother and friend. She was known for being a good host and regularly welcomed both family and friends into her home where she often served homemade German food to her guests. You were having coffee and pastry whether you wanted it or not. She was sassy, kind-hearted, filled with drama, straightforward, fiercely loyal, stubborn, frugal, self-reliant, strong willed, but most of all, she was LOVED.

Nanny always looked out for her family throughout her life, and was there for us no matter what. Nanny was loved by her family and friends and will be greatly missed.

Ursula was preceded in death by her husband, Michael Petillo; her youngest son,
Raymond Schafer; and her great-granddaughter, Danielle Bough.

She is survived by her oldest son, John Schafer and his wife, Violet; her loving daughter and care giver, Gabriele Warden and husband, Robert; grandchildren, Shelly Bough and husband, Chris, Lori Wechsler and husband, Aaron, Jason Schafer, Jennifer Newton and husband, Brian; three great-grandchildren, Karlie Bough, and Colin and Brandon Newton; two amazing daughters-in-law, Joanne Schafer and Dawn Hinz; and a favorite niece, Johanna Schwencke.

A memorial service will be given by Vaughn McCoy and Robert Burpitt on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. The family will receive friends and have a meal after the service at South View Community Park 401 Rock Springs Rd, Kingsport TN.