Josephine B. Tarantino

Josephine Tarantino passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her loving family and caregivers on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. Josephine was born in Santa E’lia, Sicily and immigrated to the United States in 1930 at the age of 6. Her family moved to San Diego in 1936 and settled in what is now known as Little Italy. She graduated from San Diego High School in 1942. After graduation, she worked in the Van Camp Tuna Cannery and later took a Civil Service job at Naval Air Station San Diego located on North Island, Coronado. Her work supported the war effort and operating forces in the Pacific. She married her husband Joseph Frank Tarantino on October 22, 1949. She enjoyed family get-togethers and working in her garden. She was a member of the San Diego High School Alumni Association, the Grant School PTA, Italian Catholic Federation #230, the Our Lady of the Rosary Guild and the Scripps Mercy Hospital Auxiliary. She was a devoted wife and mother who will be remembered for her unconditional love of family, her nurturing nature, strong faith and resiliency.

She is survived by her children Frank (Loren), Mary Lynn Boner (Kevin), Philip (Marian), grandsons Joey (V.V.), Daniel (fiancée Michelle), Bryan and Matthew and great-grand children Lucca and Ella Tarantino. She is also survived by sisters Katherine Zolezzi (Tom), Rosalie Ingrande, brother Vito (Dona), sister-in-law Gatana (Stan) Madruga, brother-in-law George Casciola along with many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Frank and parents Philip and Rose Busalacchi.

Viewing will be held at Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary, 3655 5th Ave, 5-8pm on Tuesday, August 9, 2016. Recitation of Rosary and funeral mass will be held at 9am on Wednesday, August 10 at Our Lady of the Rosary Church on State and Date Streets. Entombment will be at Holy Cross Mausoleum on Hilltop Drive in San Diego.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Carmelite Monastery, 5158 Hawley Blvd, San Diego 92116 or Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 1629 Columbia State Street, San Diego 92101.