Josephine Mary Libertelli, beloved Mother and Grandmother, 103 years old, peacefully entered Heaven to be with the Lord on October 9, 2025. Born on July 23, 1922 in Divernon, Illinois, of parents Giuseppina and Ignazio Maltese who emigrated from Italy, Josephine grew up on a beautiful farm. From there, she moved with her parents and siblings to New York City. In her later years, she moved to the Bronx, New York and then to Florida, and recently Boca Raton. Listening to her stories about the different eras she lived through, the Depression, for example, were beyond fascinating.

As a young child, Josephine sang on a weekly radio program, and also on the stage of the famous Carnegie Hall. Her love for singing and music never ended. Josephine proclaimed herself as being "a ham" when she was a youngster and always the center of attention. She loved to accompany her daughter Gina who sings, to all of her shows in her most recent years on this earth. Josephine (also known as "Josie"  and "Jo" to many friends), was an avid porcelain doll collector. She did not have many dolls as a child. So as the years went on she fulfilled this desire by collecting more and more of them. She was also very proud of her self-built dollhouse, with its intricately detailed handmade furniture. Josephine was an excellent cook, baker, and experienced seamstress. Always having big Sunday dinners for the family with Italian/Sicilian dishes and endless meals, which could never be replicated. She loved entertaining and hosting parties for every occasion.

In 2005, on a trip to Palermo, Sicily, she was able to speak the Sicilian dialect with the locals and it was so endearing to see and hear. Josephine loved dancing and was always the life of the party. She was often referred to as "twinkle toes" at the dances she attended weekly with her late husband Joe. She had many fabulous years with Joe dancing, traveling across the country, and truly enjoying life.

Josephine also had a true belief in the power of angels. For years, she made sure she had a little angel pin on every one of her outfits, and to this day, her closet has clothes hanging in it with those angel pins still on them. She prayed almost every day, and when someone passed away she always made sure to light a candle for them and immediately sent out mass cards on their behalf. She sent many donations to the churches, and her favorite saying was to "Do good and forget about it. Don't expect anything in return and good will come back to you."

Josephine never forgot a birthday, holiday, get well, or any occasion for family or friends. If someone was sick she'd immediately send them a get well card to cheer them up. She  sent cards out, never expecting any in return.  She loved to write letters to her friends until the friends dwindled and passed away.

Josephine loved to play bingo and not only played at the local church but also volunteered as a host there on a weekly basis. She loved Las Vegas and the excitement of playing the slot machines and moved to Vegas with her daughter, Gina, for a 2 year fun filled adventure.

Reading, writing, coloring, and drawing were her most favorite things to do until her vision and writing skills weakened at about 101 years old. Up until that point she read just about any book she could get her hands on. When technology brought "kindles" about, then she had all the books and games on there to enjoy, which was easier than loading a ton of books back and forth from the library. To this day, there are journals and journals that she wrote still yet to be opened and read. She loved to leave little daily post-it-notes with loving words and drawings, writings, or pictures she cut out from magazines pasted on them.

Josephine was a strong, proud, independent woman of Sicilian descent, who raised four children on her own, and her life was not an easy one by any means. Up until the last few months of her life, she had never been in a hospital other than sixty four years ago when giving birth to her last child. She was always the vision of good health and very rarely became sick with even a cold. She taught her children to be strong and independent as well, and to always give without expecting anything in return.

She was beautiful on the inside and outside., with the most gorgeous blue eyes and flowing healthy hair, selfless, caring, nurturing, smart, confident, and had a huge heart up until her last breath. She was always willing to help those in need and would give you all she had left, if it meant your life would be even just a bit better. Perhaps that is why when she moved on to Heaven, her heart gave out. It had already given all that was humanly possible.

Josephine was a shining light in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her.  Her journey on this earth was one marked by love, compassion, and unwavering faith in God. Her passing has left a huge void in the hearts of family, friends and many more whose lives were touched by her over the years.

We ask you remember Josephine not for the way her life ended, but for the way it was lived and for the profound impact it had on the lives of those who were fortunate enough to know and love her.

Josephine is survived by her loving children: Gina Ann, Michael, JoAnn, and Marie, six grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Josephine is predeceased by her husband, Joseph; sister, Catherine; and brothers, Al and Joseph.

Although Josephine's physical presence may no longer grace our lives, her spirit will continue to inspire and uplift us.
May her memory be a blessing and may we going forth continue her legacy of love and compassion in all that we do.
Josephine, your light will forever shine brightly in our hearts.

Please share your memories of Josephine or express condolences to her family through our online guestbook. The online guestbook can be found by scrolling below to the Guestbook box below and clicking on the 'View & Sign' button. You can share your thoughts and memories, upload pictures and/or light a candle.