Josephine Agnello

Longtime Elm Park resident Josephine Agnello, 99, a retired seamstress and the matriarch of three generations of family who will be remembered for her generosity and caring nature, died Wednesday in Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton.

She was born Josephine Leone in Manhattan, and moved to Elm Park with her family as a young child, remaining a resident of that community.

She worked as a seamstress for more than 25 years and specialized in detailed beading on formal attire.

A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she always put her family first. She was also charitable and taught her family to value the importance of giving.

She enjoyed trips to Atlantic City and attending family gatherings.

Mrs. Agnello was a parishioner of St. Michael's R.C. Church, Mariners Harbor.

Her husband of 53 years, Michael Sr., died in 1989.

She is survived by her son, Michael Jr.; her daughter, Louise Castro; her sisters, Jean Giordano, Carol Fevelo and Marie Lane; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be Saturday from the Casey Funeral Home, Castleton Corners, with a mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Adalbert's R.C. Church, Elm Park. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.