Josephine Marie Cavalluzzo

Josephine Cavalluzzo, known to the children in her neighborhood as “Ms. Jay,” died on January 24, 2026 at her home in McLean, VA. She grew up on Coney Island Avenue, in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of Italian immigrant parents. Her dad was a shoemaker, and her mom was a seamstress.

Ms. Jay loved summers. Growing up, she often took the street car to the beach with her younger brother Ronald Fiore (Ronnie). Their mom would give them round-trip fare to the beach. But sometimes, they’d walk home and use the money they saved to go on a roller coaster ride at Coney Island instead! Ms. Jay also liked to jump rope with her friends on the wide sidewalks in front of her house, and to go to the candy store on the corner for a soda or an egg cream.

When she was 21, she married a man from the Bronx named Salvatore Cavalluzzo, whose parents also were born in Italy. The two had three children, Paul, Linda and Ken.

Ms. Jay loved to sing and dance with her children, and was a really fun mom. I remember driving to the beach with her on summer mornings in Long Island for Red Cross swim lessons, and singing, “She Wore an Itsy-Bitsy-Teenie-Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini”.

Ms. Jay loved children. When her two older children grew up, she opened a daycare center, because she saw a need as more and more moms began to take jobs outside the home, and Ken, her youngest, would have plenty of friends to play with. Later, she became Board Secretary for Lakewood Public Schools, NJ, where she worked until her retirement.

She is survived by her brother, her children, 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. She was so proud of her family, and loved us all. We loved her too.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Murphy Funeral Home, located at 1102 W. Broad St., Falls Church, VA, 22046, on February 5, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.