Christina Claire (Mulvihill) Petragnani's Obituary
Christina Claire (Mulvihill) Petragnani, 58, of Syracuse, NY, was called Home into God’s loving arms following a long and heroic battle with metastatic breast cancer on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, surrounded by her greatest loves, Christina’s husband and four sons.
Born in Trenton, NJ to Margaret Ellen McGinley, Christina was the youngest of five siblings. She graduated from Homer High School and went on to attend the State University of New York at Oswego.
Christina was a classic beauty, and her obvious outer beauty was only exceeded by her inner beauty and warmth. Christina lived her life with unwavering passion and integrity. She was fiercely loyal to those she loved, especially her family and the many friends she met and welcomed into her heart over the years.
Without a doubt, Christina’s greatest loves were her “boys.” It was on a blind date, facilitated by Christina’s sister, Mary Ellen, that Christina met the love of her life, Nick, who knew immediately that she was the one. Together, they created a beautiful life and Christina found her true purpose - to be a Mom to her four sons. Christina devoted herself unconditionally to nurturing, protecting and caring for them.
From the first day of Christina’s diagnosis over six years ago, she faced this insidious disease with the spirit of a warrior, confronting every obstacle -- and there were many -- with grit and determination. She fought every day and continuously defied the odds for one reason: to gain more time as a mother and wife.
Christina was predeceased by her mother, Margaret, and her father-in-law, Nicholas V. Petragnani.
She is survived by her devoted husband of twenty-one years, Nicholas V. Petragnani, Jr.; her beloved children, Sam, Luke, Nicholas (George) and Evan. She is also survived by her loving sisters, Mary Ellen (John) O’Brien and Susan (Tom) McCoy; brothers, James (Rebecca) Mulvihill and Robert (Marge) Mulvihill; mother-in-law, Sharon Petragnani; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ross and Amy Piscitelli; and many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, all of whom Christina loved very much. Finally, Christina is survived by her canine shadow of twelve wonderful years, Buster.
Nick would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the countless individuals who provided compassionate and dignified care to Christina over the years, including Dr. Michael Mix; Dr. Abi Siva; Dr. Sam Benjamin; Dr. Lisa Lai; Dr. Satish Krishnamurthy; Melissa Morris, NP; Alyssa Bardenett, PA; the nurses and staff on the infusion floor of the Upstate Cancer Center and on Floor 10G of Upstate University Hospital; Carolyn Adams, NP; and Bridgette Hagen, who selflessly tended to Christina in her final hours. Lastly, Nick would like to thank Christina’s sister Mary Ellen for her devoted care for Christina and his entire family.
A funeral Mass in celebration of Christina’s life will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. in Blessed Sacrament Church (3129 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13206). Interment will immediately follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery Mausoleum, DeWitt. Family and friends are invited to call at the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, 3401 Vickery Road (corner of Buckley Road), North Syracuse, NY, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
Contributions may be made in Christina’s name to the Upstate Foundation’s Breast Cancer Patient Comfort and Care Fund (750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, NY 13210); and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.
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