Josephine Candela

Josephine (Ricco) Candela, 88, was born on December 3, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York, and passed away on August 27, 2026. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and sister, she will be remembered for a life defined by family, tradition, and the warmth she brought to her home, and everyone fortunate enough to gather there.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Josephine moved to Toms River, New Jersey, 41 years ago with her husband, Anthony, and their family, building a life centered around the people she loved most. Family was always at the heart of everything she did, and there was no role she treasured more than being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were truly the light of her life.

Josephine showed her love through food—preparing meals that brought everyone together and creating memories around the table that her family will carry with them forever. Her cooking was about so much more than the food itself; it was how she cared for people, how she celebrated them, and how she made home feel like home.

When she wasn’t in the kitchen or surrounded by family, Josephine could often be found cheering on her beloved New York Mets. A devoted Mets fan through and through, she rarely missed a game and loved rooting for her team.

Traditions meant everything to Josephine. From Thanksgiving dinners filled with family and food to the excitement of Christmas morning, and her incredible Sunday dinners, she created the moments everyone looked forward to year after year. These traditions became the foundation of countless treasured family memories and will continue to live on through the generations she loved so deeply.

Daughter of the late Helen Ricco, Josephine was predeceased by her beloved husband of 69 years, Anthony D. Candela, who passed away on July 11, 2026, and their daughter, Laura Candela, in 2017. She is survived by her children, Helen Mulcahy and her husband Neil, and Leonard Candela and his wife Robin; her grandchildren, Lindsay, Briana (Chris), Neil (Mallory), Kelly-Jo (Rich), Justin (Amy), and Kylie; and her great-grandchildren, Riley, Chelsea, Brayden, Harrison, Olivia, Max, Violet, Zoey, and Henry. She is also survived by her sister, Helen Visconti, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Above all, Josephine’s greatest joy was her family. Her home was a place where everyone gathered, where there was always something cooking, and where love could be felt in the smallest details. The recipes she made, the holidays she created, and the traditions she lovingly kept will remain a part of her family for generations to come. Her legacy lives on not only in the family she adored, but in every meal shared, every holiday celebrated, and every moment spent together around the table.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Monday, August 31, 2026 at 12pm at St. Justin the Martyr, Toms River followed by interment of ashes at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Toms River.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.quinn-hoppingfh.com.

At the request of the family, please no floral donations.