Josephine Pauline (Puzzo) Ramondetta

Josephine Pauline (Puzzo) Ramondetta, of Vernon, and Palm Beach, FL passed away suddenly on January 14, 2015 at 90 years old in Florida. For 54 years she was the beloved wife of the late Joseph Ramondetta. She was born and raised in Hartford by her parents, Josephine and Salvatore Puzzo. She leaves behind six children: NancyLee Paratore of Plymouth, MA; Joseph and Mary Ramondetta of Old Lyme; Jessica and Anthony Gaudet of Walton, KY; Joanne and David Matson, with whom Josephine resided for 22 years in Vernon; LuAnn and David Hussey of Tolland and John and Kristin Ramondetta of Glastonbury. Josephine was adored by her grandchildren, Christina and Timothy Maloney, Erika Hanson, Melissa and Michael Earls, Mark Hanson, Lauren Ramondetta and her fiancé Brett Warner, Alisha and Dante Avarista, Allison and William Sullivan, Samantha and George Chapell, Joseph Paratore, Caitlin Hussey, Nicholas Matson, Olivia Hussey, Micaela Hussey, Zachary Ramondetta and Noah Ramondetta; and her two step grandsons Nathan and Daniel Gaudet. Josephine thoroughly enjoyed her eight great- grandchildren, Joseph, Hailey, Allyson, Stephen, Sienna, Braden, Emilia, Lucia; and her step great-granddaughter Natalia. She is also survived by her two sisters, Lucy Duhamel and Barbara Jean Negrola. Josephine graduated from Bulkeley High School in Hartford and then worked at Travelers Insurance Company until she started a family. She spent almost 25 years raising her six children. If you grew up in Vernon in the 60’s, 70’s or 80’s, you probably knew at least one of the Ramondetta’s. At the age of 50, Josephine began a new career in the travel industry as she opened Tri-Town Travel in Vernon. She and her husband travelled the world, from the U.S. to Australia and another four continents in between. She loved the things in life that kept her young at heart; swimming every day, her trips to the casino, her two-seat convertible and a sparkly outfit. Tootsie always enjoyed being around young people: her children, their friends, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As she slowed down in recent years, she even took to Facebook and email to keep up with all their activities. Gramma Tootsie was not your typical grandmother, she was a gem, and she will be missed by all those whose lives she touched.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday (February 7) at 10 a.m. at St Bernard Church, 25 Saint Bernard Terrace, Rockville. Burial will follow at St Mary’s Cemetery, East Hartford. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory may be made to a charity close to Josephine's heart: Fidesco USA, P.O Box 68, East Texas, PA 18046-0068. The D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, Wethersfield is in charge of arrangements. To share a memory of Josephine with the family, please visit www.desopo.com.