Josephine E. Merlo

March 8, 2013

Giuseppina Erotilda Mugavero Merlo, aka Judy, Jo, Juju, or Josephine, never met a stranger. An inveterate gift giver, she exchanged Christmas and Birthday gifts with her bus driver and fellow bus riders on her way to and from work in Downtown St. Louis, gave $1 to each bank teller who assisted her at Southwest Bank, and was always giving a few bucks here and there to kids she met, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Her children, David and Claire (Tim Curtis), will miss her greatly as will her grandchildren, Amy (Rick Neitzel), Christina (Luis Flores), Emily, Daniel Curtis, sisters Agnes Kersting and Claire Baehler (Pat Baehler) and countless family and friends. She is pre-deceased by her husband Charlie, her sisters Frances Gitto, Angeline Gianino, Marie Spinnicchia, and Rosalie Patrick, and by her brothers Blase, Larry, Tony, Matt, and Herman Mugavero.

One of 12 children, she and her siblings were able to experience farm life on the Hill in south St. Louis. Chickens, cows, vegetables gardens and fruit trees were all part of her childhood. She married Carlo Giuseppe Merlo, Charlie Red, during WWII and together they danced well into their 70's. Judy spent her last few years in Miami, and most recently at Manor Grove in Kirkwood, Missouri, where her devoted caretakers kept her comfortable as she peacefully transitioned to the next chapter of her life.

Bring your smiles and stories to the Calcaterra Funeral Home where we will celebrate a life well-lived. Funeral Mass: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 10AM, St. Ambrose Catholic Church 5130 Wilson Ave., St. Louis MO. Visitation: 4-8PM Calcaterra Funeral Home 5140 Daggett Ave., St. Louis MO. Entombment Resurrection Cemetery. Place memories and condolences at www.calcaterrafuneral.com. A service of Calcaterra Funeral Home.