Josephine Elizabeth Colecchi

Josephine E. Colecchi passed away at her residence at the age of 89 on May 21, 2020. Despite several years of declining health, Josephine remained strong and determined to the very end to be involved in the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and to supervise the baking of Italian cookies and the making of home-made pasta.

Josephine was born in West Newton, Pennsylvania on January 17, 1931, to Antonio and Rose (Leone) Ventura. Josephine married Paul Colecchi on June 9, 1951 and lived in Ravenna since her marriage.

Although her primary career was as a homemaker, Josephine was employed for several years as a bookkeeper at Skorman’s in Ravenna. She also worked for Saber Systems and Service and as a precinct election official for the Portage County Board of Elections.

Josephine was an excellent cook and baker. She was known for her homemade ravioli, gnocchi and Italian wedding soup. She hand-rolled 1,000 meatballs for the wedding soup she made her family every year for Thanksgiving dinner. Her pizzelles, or as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren called them “sun cookies” or “Nana’s cookies”, were a family favorite and she distributed them by the dozens to family and friends. She was always very concerned to make sure the correct amount of anise flavor was added to the pizzelle dough mix.

She is survived by her children – Linda (Arley) White; Stephen (Andrea) Colecchi; Carol (Charles) Schofield; and Robert (Tracey) Colecchi. She is also survived by her sister, Pauline Ventura; her sister-in-law, Josephine J. Colecchi; and many loving nephews, nieces and other relatives.

Josephine was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her daughter, Patricia L. Colecchi; and by her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law – Vincent and Maria Colecchi; Mario and Nancy Mascio; and Benny Colecchi.

Josephine was a very proud Nana to her 11 grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by Melissa (Sean) Cutright; Matthew Colecchi; Cory (Blair Bagwell) Schofield; Janelle (Mike) Abrams; Brian (Nicole Henthorn) White; Colleen (Adam) Schweninger; Sarah (Jonathan) Lauck; Anthony (Angela) Colecchi; Kevin White; Julia Colecchi; and Allison Colecchi.

She found great joy in spending time with her 13 great-grandchildren, who visited with her frequently. She is survived by great-grandchildren Gabriel Cutright; Elijah Cutright; Reagan Cutright; Kira Abrams; Alyssa Abrams; Matteo Colecchi; Selina Colecchi; Lorenzo Colecchi; Ava White; Aubrey White; Adelyn Schweninger, Paityn Lauck; and Parker Lauck. She was also looking forward to the birth of her 14th great-grandchild, Baby Schweninger, who will be arriving in August.

The family would like to extend its thanks and appreciation to Drs. Emmanuel Yanelli and A. Roger Tsai, and their colleagues and office staff members for their care and support over the years. A special thank you to the Hospice of the Western Reserve for their assistance during the last week of her life.

Calling hours will be 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at the Wood-Kortright-Borkoski Funeral Home, 703 E. Main Street, Ravenna, Ohio. It is required that everyone attending the calling hours wear a mask and practice social distancing. The number of individuals permitted in the funeral home at any one time will be limited. The family certainly understands if you do not feel comfortable with attending. Please do not attend the calling hours if you are feeling ill. The family thanks you for your patience and understanding.

A Mass of Christian Burial, which will be private and for the immediate family only, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 28, 2020 at the University Parish Newman Center in Kent with Father Steve Agostino officiating. You may view a live stream of the Mass of Christian Burial on Josephine’s obituary page at www.wood-kortright-borkoski.com. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Josephine’s memory to University Parish Newman Center, 1424 Horning Road, Kent, Ohio 44240 or the Hattie Larlham Foundation, 9772 Diagonal Road, Mantua, Ohio 44255.