Is it nature? Or is it nurture? The why of who we are: running through our DNA, molded by the potter’s wheel we call family, written in the stars, ordained by a God we cannot see. These questions drive me, fueling an insatiable hunger to understand people. In hindsight, that curiosity was nurtured by the women I have known in stages: first as Mom, Aunt, Grandma; later as women with names, identities, and stories. Josephine Ann Castellano was first Aunt Josie. To little Felicia, she was vibrant. Her deep, joyful laugh echoed through every moment. She laughed at a shift in your tone, a roll of your eyes, simple eye contact. That warmth carried into conversations with strangers. She was a friend to everyone, an attentive listener, with elegant hands adorned with long nails and rings I admired as a child. As I grew, I met Josephine beyond “Aunt Josie.” I met her through vulnerability. I carried an umbrella of shame, and she stepped beneath it with me. She listened to my experiences and shared her own until our stories washed away my need to hide. That gift continued every time we talked. I came to know Josephine as a whole person with a life beyond the role I had assigned her. She poured love into everyone. She encouraged me to learn about different cultures, religions, and ways of life. She never met a stranger, only someone whose story she had not yet heard. That was her nature, and I know it runs in me too. Her life was also shaped by nurture: the eldest daughter, a woman devoted to serving those she loved. I often wonder: when someone spends their life pouring into others, who pours into them? Those questions shaped my own identity. Give freely. Be someone’s safe place, AND let yourself be cared for. Perhaps when we meet one another with vulnerability, we can reshape the roles we’ve inherited into an empowered blend of nature and nurture, kissed by God, touched by the stars, and enriched by every story we are fortunate enough to hear. That is the lesson she left me.

My Mother, Lee, worked with “Auntie Jo” at Walgreens.  We all had lots of laughs with her.  May the memories you all shared with her comfort you always.

Josephine Castellano   June 1, 1931 – June 10, 2026

Josephine Castellano, a beloved sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2026, just a short time after celebrating her 95th birthday. Born on June 1, 1931, she was the first daughter born to the late Gaetanna and Giuseppe Castellano.Josephine grew up in a vibrant, bustling household as one of 12 children. She was predeceased by eight of her brothers and one sister. She is survived by her two loving sisters, Felicia D'Acunto and Domenica Troia, as well as a large, adoring family of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, and great-grand-nieces and nephews.Josephine dedicated many years to a successful career in banking in Downtown Brooklyn. A proud New Yorker through and through, she loved the energy of her home city and spent many sunny days enjoying walks along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. She was equally proud of her rich Sicilian heritage, which shaped her deep devotion to family.As a natural and loving caregiver, Josephine selflessly looked after many family members throughout her lifetime. She possessed a rare warmth and open heart—she truly never knew a stranger, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her loved her dearly.Josephine will be deeply missed, but her legacy of love, kindness, and family devotion will be treasured in our memories forever.

Services will be held at the Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord on Cypress Lake Drive, July 10 at 11:00 am followed by Internment at Hodges Funeral Home

OBITUARY

Josephine Ann Castellano

June 1, 1931 – June 23, 2026

Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park

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