Josephine E. Cicalese

Mrs. Josephine E. Cicalese, 100, of Southbury died peacefully Thursday, November 21, 2013 at Pomperaug Woods in Southbury. She was the wife of the late Michael J. Cicalese. Josephine was born in 1913 in New York, New York, daughter of the late Miguel and Antonina (Magistro) Galluccio. She was brought up in New York City and graduated from New York University in 1934. She married Michael Cicalese in 1940. Mike and "Jo" spent 63 happy years together until his death in 2007 at the age of 93. Jo was first and foremost a teacher. As she always said, she was happiest in the classroom. She taught kindergarten at George Washington School in West Hempstead, New York, only leaving when her husband's career took them to Paris, France. Jo thrived in Paris, taking full advantage of all that Paris and the rest of France had to offer. She attended lectures at the Louvre Museum, perfected her cooking at the Cordon Bleu culinary school, and charmed and amazed the Parisians with her fluent French. Upon her return to New York City in 1964, Jo immediately volunteered as a teacher's assistant with the newly formed Head Start Program, and was happily back in the classroom. Jo was a lifelong learner. She was a voracious reader, with a lifelong interest in world affairs, cultural events, and especially, the opera. Jo was a "people person" who loved to be surrounded with friends. She thoroughly enjoyed her 100th birthday in May, attended by numerous friends and relatives. Besides her husband, Jo was predeceased by her parents and her brother, Carmelo Galluccio. She is survived by her two daughters, Annette Kilbride and her husband Ted of Madison, and Linda Rickard and her husband Ian of Windsor, and her two adored grandchildren, Melissa Rickard of Windsor and Laura Rickard and her husband Jeremy Troxell of Manlius, NY, and nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be held on Monday, Nov. 25th at 11:30 a.m. at the Church of the Epiphany 262 Main St. North, Southbury. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Fresh Air Fund 633 Third Ave., New York, NY 10017. The Southbury Funeral Home of Munson - Lovetere, 235 Main St. North, is entrusted with arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com. The family would like to thank all Jo's compassionate caregivers, especially all those on the assisted living floor at Pomperaug Woods and from Right at Home.