     While Mom may have projected a fearful and worried nature a lot of the time, I think her everyday actions were in contrast to that perception. Whatever was required to keep the family going, she did it day after day with no hint that it was anything special. When they started the restaurant she and Dad worked 12 hour days 6 days a week. On top of that she was up every morning making us breakfast, packing lunches, and making sure we had something to eat for dinner when we got home from school. Dad ended up in the hospital for 6 weeks during the summer of our first year in the restaurant, and she managed to keep it open and running with our help. We had many long days together that summer and we all did our part, but I remember Rocky and I spent plenty of time playing out back on the railroad tracks during the slow part of the day. 
     After they sold the restaurant and Dad retired, Mom found a job and worked. I guess with us kids gone she needed more to do than take care of the house and Dad. Thankfully they did enjoy trips to Europe for several years during that time and she got to reconnect with her relatives in Austria.
     When Dad got Alzheimer’s she somehow managed to take care of him at home for 14 years until he died, which more than anything else showed how tough she was. After that she carried on taking care of herself and the house, and managed to be self sufficient almost to the end of her life. 
     After her fall at home, her time in the rehab facility was torture for her. I think that was because she couldn’t stand not being in control of her life. I am forever grateful to Jenny and Gino for taking care of her after she got out of rehab, which allowed her to spend the time she had left with her family instead of in a nursing home.


Josephine, Josie, Beppi, Mom

A child of WAR and WANT

Our Mediator

Our Center of Gravity

Her Power invisible, insistent, persistent, unassuming

Overlooked, Unappreciated in her youth

She built a Family

Her World, Her Universe

Shield bearer for our father, an angry young veteran

She saved him from himself

They made three new lives

Together Again but not Forgotten

I was blessed to have spent a lot of time with my grandparents.  Gardening, crocheting, playing casino…and maybe a bit of poker.  My grandma taught me how to swim after multiple failed attempts with the Y.  She helped teach me to ride a bike.  Carrying me to bed long past any reasonable age of needing to be carried.  We fished and swam all the time.  My favorite routine with them was our trips to the base to swim, lunch at the NCO club, shopping at the commissary and then the best naps ever on the car ride home.  

She could cook, boy could she cook.  I loved all of her meals but my 2 favorites had to be lentil soup and Sunday chicken and rice..and eggplant, pizza, meatballs.  There wasn’t much she made I didn’t love.  The extra crispy chocolate chip cookies.  I must have tried a dozen times to master the recipe and never quite got it right.  Her apple strudel was the best around and she was so proud of her talent and let’s not forget about the chocolate moth ball cake.

Holidays were always special.  Good food and family.  And she loved those egg hunts, again long past the age we should have been hunting Easter eggs.   Countless scarves, mittens, booties, sweaters, blankets she knitted and crocheted with love for her family and friends’ babies.

She was always on the go, hated to waste any time.  Grocery shopping was legitimately like supermarket sweep.  She would run in heels up and down the aisles, across the parking lot.    I’ll never forget a shopping trip to Walmart after they rearranged the aisles and she let every worker she saw know there changes were slowing her down.  Unbelievable, she said.

She loved her family deeply almost to a fault, always worrying and having a genuine concern for the best interest of everyone.  All out of love.  To say she will be missed is an understatement.  Not goodbye, auf wiedersehen.

Merci à cette belle personne qu’était Josefa  d’avoir apporté autant de force et de tendresse à ma sœur Angelina et à toute sa famille française. 
Sophie et Jean Lejuez 
Cherbourg, France 


This photo takes me back to those many wonderful times at Josefa and Rocky’s home. 

Christmas with Josefa at Dave and Angela’s house.

I recall first meeting Josefa and Rocco. I was in full dress uniform, spit shined, polished brass, cords, beret, ribbons and medals. Josepha first said an admiring “Oh my!” They both treated me as an old friend. When I showed up at the house the next day to take Jenny to the beach, Josefa saw me and said, “Your so hairy! You’re an ape.” I could only laugh. Over the many years Josefa and Rocky treated me as a son. I learned so much of how to be a better person from them. I loved the dinners. There was alway a crowd of family and friends. They were an amazing team in the kitchen. Everyone who met them commented about the hospitality they showed. I miss them both dearly. 

OBITUARIO

Josefa R. Galletta

31 enero, 1925 – 8 octubre, 2022

Life Event Center at Florida Memorial Gardens

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