Obituary of Josephine Amedo

Josephine (Josie) was the heart and soul of our large, loving family.  She spent a lifetime devoted to her husband Joseph (Bud), their five children, ten grandchildren, and her five great-grandchildren.  Family was everything to her.  Sometimes it seemed as if her goal was to make everyone else safe and happy, no matter the personal sacrifice.

     Her Catholic faith was paramount in her life.  She knelt with each of her five children nightly, teaching us bedtime prayers, saying the rosary, and never missing a Sunday mass.  Visiting the Vatican and seeing the Pope in NYC recently were highlights for her, as was every Christmas celebration. 

     Born in Messina, Sicily, Josephine emigrated the United States at 3 months old.  She was very proud of her American citizenship, and always cried when she heard the National Anthem played because it meant so much to her.  Needless to say, July 4th was always a giant celebration in her world.  Still, she remained exceedingly proud and connected to her Italian roots and has been so pleased to reconnect with her Italian cousins.  Her lasagna and eggplant parm are legendary, but she also had a reputation for packing the best bag lunches around.

     Josie was tenacious and fiercely independent.  Never having learned to drive, she walked wherever she needed to go well into her 90s, and rarely asked for help. In her late 70s, she was still showing off her double-dutch skills.   She was so proud of being able to manage on her own and never having to be a “bother.”

     She loved welcoming visitors or visiting on the phone, had a contagious laugh and could put a smile on anyone’s face. The children were her favorite visitors, though, blowing bubbles, doing puzzles, and  generally having fun together.   When you were with her, you knew you were loved.  

     Josephine always loved to sew, first as a seamstress and later as a crafter.  She was creative, meticulous and persistent, and her creations brought joy throughout the years. 

     She will be remembered lovingly as an extraordinary wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend by all those who were lucky enough to have her in their lives over the past 99 years.