Josephine Quinci Asaro

1914 - 2015

Josephine Quinci Asaro
July 30, 1914 - November 15, 2015
SAN DIEGO / CARLSBAD

Josephine Quinci Asaro passed away peacefully in her sleep with a hint of smile on her lips on November 15, 2015. She was 101 years ~ memorable years ~ of age. In the photo at her hundredth party, she's wearing a necklace she made.

Born July 30, 1914 in Mazara Del Vallo, Sicily, Italy, she came to San Diego at the age of 6 with her mother Nicolina and siblings to join her father Vito Quinci who was a member here of the fishing community of Little Italy. One of 12 children, in the middle 1930' she married her late husband, Frank B. Asaro and together they owned The Seagull, a small, stately redwood hotel at India and Beech, San Diego, where for many years Frank operated his two-chair barber shop. In 1946, they moved from Little Italy to the home they built in Point Loma and there they continued raising their family.

As a wife and mother, Josie contributed to the World War II effort, working as an electronics tech for aircraft plants, including Gen. Dynamics. She received awards for innovation, and later, at Stromberg Carlson, she put together the instrument panel for Alan Shepard's space capsule, working from blueprints. Independently, she holds a US Patent.

Josie's favorite times were spent with her husband and large family, and Sunday night dinners were no exception. Her grandchildren cherish memories of sitting in Josies' kitchen, talking and sharing her foresight and wisdom on life while she cooked dinner. The fresh vegetables and fruits often came from her garden. An independent personality, she even flew to Colorado a few years ago and taught the kids how to make the perfect meatball.

She regularly worked her treadmill at La Costa Glen and was an avid bingo player. Despite her loss of sight in later years, she would often simultaneously play two Bingo Boards, memorizing the location squares the night before. Her triumphant call of "Bingo" rang-out regularly.

She traveled fairly extensively, several times returning to her native Italy where she was held in great esteem. Her husband and she had charitably rebuilt family homes destroyed by the bombing in the war. Despite the tragedies of lifeespecially of a large familyshe acknowledged that she'd been gifted a great one, but it wasn't from pure luck alone; she joked with her doctor during her last months, "Why am I still here?" Her angel was not ready for her.

She will remain the love and pride of her family; her memory will be cherished and revered by them all. She is survived by her two sons, V. Frank Asaroattorney/author and John R. Asaronoted artist and his wife Janet Asaro. Josie held dear to her heart her five grandchildren: Dean Asaro, Stephanie Goncalves, Valarie Brehm, Amber Asaro and Devon Asaro. Surviving her also are her beloved brothers, Nick Quinci and Jiove Quinci, sisters Marie Whiteley and Carol Sardo, and Josie's many nieces, nephews, in-laws and cousins.

In later life, her greatest treasures were her 12 great-grandchildren, Trevor and Hayley Goncalves; Nathan, Darren and Ryan Asaro; Breanne, Brady, Anna, Julia and Olivia Brehm; and Dylan O'Neill and Molly O'Neilldaughter of her beloved late granddaughter Audrey O'Neillwhom Josie will surely join in the Kingdom of God along with her late husband Frank. She also adored sons-in-law: John Brehm, Joe O'neill, the late Richard Goncalves, and daughter-in-law Barbara Mansfield Asaro. She was a member of the Anita Club and the Sons of Italy of San Diego.

Rosary will be at 9:00 a.m. with Mass following at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, November 27th, at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 1629 Columbia St, San Diego, CA 92101. (619) 234-4820. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to: FORCE Team Audrey Asaro O'Neill, 16057 Tampa Palms Blvd W. #373, Tampa, FL. 33545 http://teamforce.facingourrisk.org/mansfieldasarol