Josephine Teresa Vitagliano

Josephine "Josie" Vitagliano was born on December 28, 1937 to Joseph and Maria DiPace in Newark, New Jersey. She was the youngest of 4 children. Josie spent her early years in New Jersey where she met and fell in love with her husband Joseph "Sonny" Vitagliano. In 1973 together they moved west to Phoenix Arizona with their four children. They loved the warm and casual climate and desert hospitality they found in their new home. Josephine enjoyed a long and very successful career spending over 20 years with Wells Fargo Bank. As a banker she held many different titles; from teller to branch manger, merchant banking specialist, and operations supervisor. She was dedicated and in turn trusted and loved by her customers who enjoyed seeing her smile everyday. She was active in her community and church, and taught catechism on Sunday mornings at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Scottsdale. Josie worked hard throughout the years to make a better life for her husband and children before retiring at the young age of 55.

During this time frame Josie and Sonny's family was growing as they were blessed with four grandchildren. Josie was delighted and devoted her time to her treasured grandchildren. Instead of daycare they all spent the day at "Nana's" house. She then started working part-time at a gym called Naturally Women. Here she quickly excelled from cleaning the equipment and greeting people, to becoming a fitness water aerobics instructor. Josie always made friends very quickly, and from her water class members emerged the "Water Babes" where she organized a monthly birthday club luncheon. Out of this social club began many friendships lasting to present day. And they all came to be blessed with good exercise, happy times, best friends, and good health.

Josie's favorite place was the beach where she loved collecting seashells and eating seafood. She and Sonny traveled to Italy, Hawaii, and California many times during their retirement. Josie and Sonny were married 54 years before his passing in 2011. Josie loved sewing, crocheting, knitting, and crafting and made many handmade gifts for her friends and family. She loved shopping, cooking, watching movies and eating out. Josie was preceded in death by her husband Sonny, son Alan, brother Vincent, sister Antoinette, and her parents.

She leaves to cherish her beloved memory her sister Millie and brother-in-law Frank, loving children son David & daughter-in-law Jennifer, daughter Marie & son-in-law Edward, daughter Gina, and four grandchildren Adell, Austin, Andria, Joey, and great-granddaughter Cayden, her nieces and nephews, best friends and extended family.