Josephine passed in her sleep at the age of 98 at Parkway Pavilion after suffering a stroke. She led a life full of love. Josephine considered every moment she had as precious. Friends and family were what mattered. Josie, or JoJo, as she became known to her friends and staff at Parkway Pavilion in her later years spread love to all she touched in her long life.
Born in Springfield, MA, to her immigrant parents, Vincenzo and Theresa (Ascone) Zuccala, Josephine was the second oldest of 9 children. She was predeceased by an older sister Anna, who passed during the Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918. She was like a second mother to her younger siblings. This laid the foundation of her destiny as a loving caretaker to her children, and to everyone else around her.
She grew up during the Great Depression, and volunteered at the Springfield Amory rolling bandages during WWII. She was the first one in her family to graduate high school in 1939 from Commerce High School in Springfield, MA. Her interests included; knitting, crocheting, reading the classics, cooking and baking, and caring for her grandchildren and her many pets over the years. She was a communicant of St Patrick's Church, Enfield, CT.
She had many jobs over her long life including; working for Milton Bradley Co., W.T. Grant, Hallmark Cards, The Bigelow Sanford Carpet Mill, and for the Albert Steiger Company from the day it opened in Enfield CT in the 70's to the day it closed in the 90's, while she raised a family with her loving husband, Charles Sferrazza, whom she was married on July 29, 1946, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Springfield, MA .
During their 65 year marriage, she and Charles raised three children together, before his passing on June 1, 2010, at the age of 96. They spent their married years in Enfield, CT, and enjoyed many trips across the country and cruises at sea.
Josephine was also predeceased by her adult siblings; Frank, Joseph, Immaculata, and Carmella (Mally) , with each of whom she sustained strong and loving bond. Siblings Luigi, Augustino, and Pasquale, passed in childhood and were never forgotten by Josephine.
She leaves behind three children and their families: a son, Samuel and his wife Judy Sferrazza; a daughter, Mary and her husband Pierre LeBlanc; a daughter Charlotte Sferrazza and her fiancé Dickson Reid; a grandson, Anthony (Tony) LeBlanc and his wife Ella Sun; a grandson , Peter LeBlanc and his wife Brittany LeBlanc; a granddaughter, Trista (Sferrazza) Calfa and her husband Frank Calfa; a granddaughter, Jena (LeBlanc) Fallon and her husband Edward Fallon; and great grandchildren Brody and Russell Fallon, Nathan and baby-to-be LeBlanc; and Harper LeBlanc; sisters-in-law Jean ( Zuccala ) Peterson and Josephine Sferrazza; and many nieces and nephews and their offspring.
The family would like to send special thanks to the fine Nurses, Aids, and Staff at the Parkway Pavilion for all their efforts and great care during Josephine's stay there.
Arrangements are as follow; the wake and visitation will be held at the Browne Memorial Funeral Chapels at 43 Shaker Road, Enfield, CT on Thursday May 9, 2019 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm, and Friday, May 10, 2019 at 10:00am with a funeral service at St Patrick's Church , 64 Pearl St, Enfield, CT, to be held at 11:00am, and the burial to follow at St Patrick's Cemetery, 1550 King St, Enfield CT. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Parkway Pavilion Resident's Fund, ASPCA, or the Wounded Warrior Project.