Josephine Capria

Josephine Capria “Josie”, Monroe, CT (formerly of Freehold NJ and Bklyn, NY), drifted into a peaceful sleep on Friday April 12, 2024, at 7:30pm, surrounded by family and loved ones, at Mozaic Senior Life, in Bridgeport CT.

Born in New Jersey on August 8th, 1927, Josie’s imprint on life, and those who knew her, spanned across 9 plus decades. Wife, mom, grandma, nana, sister, aunt and friend, Josie’s journey touched all. Her memory and moments she shared over the years, will live in our hearts forever. The daughter of Italian immigrants, Francis and Francesco Concolino, “Josie” was full of energy and spunk. She would often tell stories of how she loved riding a bike, jumping rope (double dutch her specialty) or just being able to run free! She was unstoppable from the day she was born. In 1946, she embarked on a ship headed to Nicotera, Calabria Italy to meet and married her husband Alfonso Capria. Their courtship, by the pen, was a prequel to “You’ve Got Mail”.

At 22 she became a mom and later casted her own version of My Three Sons. A homemaker by day, she focused on ironing clothes, keeping bed sheets tightly tucked and saving the last chocolate pudding, by night she transitioned into the captain of her apartment building, stationing herself at a card table in the lobby of the Marlboro Projects of Brooklyn NY. She took this job seriously, passing the time playing cards with friends, even establishing her very own barista bar, sharing coffee time that would later set the stage for her Golden Girl years.

She became a grandmother at 44, welcoming 8 grandchildren over the years, also residing with each at different stages along her journey. During these years, things like egg in a hole and grandma’s homemade pizza became a house special, including being as a seamstress, including altering dance costumes for her grandchildren which she later got to see on the big stage. Although widowed at 55, Josie was always surrounded by loving family, while she continued to demonstrate her spunk and perseverance. She left Brooklyn and toured through NJ, eventually settling at Surrey Downs where she enjoyed her “Golden Girls”, mall runs, coffee talks, family and friends. She would spend Christmas in CT and perfected the exact number of butter cookies including a Dom DeLuise special, which became her holiday staple, and if you tried to alter the recipe she would know.

Josie became a Nana in January of 2000, with the birth of her first great granddaughter, and over the last 24 years has welcomed and touched the lives of 10 great grandchildren. She moved to Monroe, Connecticut in 2016 where she continued to enjoy good times, good health, friends and family. In Nov of 2018 Josie suffered an injury from a fall which resulted in change of residency. Yet, at 91 years old, she bounced back with the same energy, resilience and spunk she demonstrated her whole life. She lived out her final years at Mozaic Senior Life (formally Jewish Senior Services) in Bridgeport CT, where she played bingo, attended concerts, exercised at the gym, danced and just like in her younger days, became a captain of her house, assisting the nursing staff, where they referred to her as “the boss”.

Over the last 2 years Josie bounced out of Hospice twice, beating the odds, leaving the medical staff perplexed, nicknaming her “Morris the Cat”. But Josie chose her time and she did it in her time. We now celebrate her life, the determined and unstoppable woman she was and will forever be in our hearts. She truly lived a life that was 96 years full and she did it her way.

We would like to express tremendous thanks and appreciation to the amazing staff at Boylan house, at Mozaic Senior Life. Together they wholeheartedly provided their “Jo Jo” with a beautiful end to her final chapter, full of comfort, support, friendship, compassion and love.

Josie is survived by her son’s Carlo Capria (Johanna Capria), Frank Capria (Vita Capria) and Vincent Capria. Her grandchildren DawnMarie DiCocco (Michael DiCocco), Jeannine Capria, Christine Donohue (Drew Donohue), Frank Capria Jr, (Kim Capria), Vincent Capria Jr, (Vivian Capria), KristiMarie Capria, Justine Morril (Ian Morril), Alexis Capria, and her 10 Great Grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her husband Alfonso Capria, her parents, three brothers and two sisters.

Memorial service and interment will be on Wed April 17th, 2:00pm at Pine Lawn, Memorial Park and Arboretum, 2030 Wellwood Ave Farmingdale, NY 11735.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation in her name to: Mozaic Senior Life, Attn: Foundation, 4200 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604 or you can donate in her name online by clicking on the link below:

https://www.mozaicsl.org/donate/memorial-gifts-honorariums-donate