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Josephine Natale Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Josephine Natale
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Joseph Natale
January 6, 2024
Our mother died a year ago today. We think of her every day. We love you Mom.
Joseph Natale
May 7, 2023
Her children and grandchildren will always feel her loss in our lives. Our only solace is that we were able to know her for so long. Her beautiful soul is finally at rest.
Sara (Natale) Robertson
March 5, 2023
There never was and never will be anyone quite like Josephine Natale. I feel so lucky to be of her descendants and to have had her in my life for so long. It allowed me to appreciate her sharp wit and great sense of humor. I've never met anyone so consistently optimistic. It's infectious and there was always an air of calm and contentment surrounding her. Grandma, I will continue to think of you every day and will strive to keep a similar outlook in life. You are missed so much but I know Grandpa and many friends and family members have been waiting patiently to be with you again. May you rest in peace and love.
Paul Natale
February 16, 2023
She was an amazing person I give her 100% of the credit for teaching me kindness & patience ,Also my taste for sliced hard boiled egg on a tuna sandwich,Talking with her over a glass of wine and hearing about adventures and the way the things were etc. We're always a treat! As much as I'll miss you I'm happy you are no longer in pain, got to know and spend time with your great grandchildren and are reunited with grandad in heaven....
John Natale
January 16, 2023
Given at the Church of St. Peters Jan. XIV MMXXIII in celebration of a life well lived
Josephine Frances Matrazzo Natale, known as Jo, or more often Josie.
She was delivered (actually caught) by her grandmother/midwife, Mary Ann Ferrara on April the sixth 1918.
She’s lived through some 45% of our country’s history, from the Spanish flu pandemic and WWI to Covid and Ukraine. Josie’s been here waiting for all the rest of us to show up!
Except for a year in Albany attending school, Mom lived her entire life no more than a couple of blocks from where she was born, Ash St., Walnut St., Elm St. (my favorite) and finally Grand Avenue.
Josie became a seamstress under her godfather Mr. Anthony Carbone. His tailor shop was next to the railroad tracks on Washington St.
A bright student, she actually skipped a grade. Her memory has always been extraordinary.
Married in 1947, she bore three sons. The family expanded with the addition of three grand kids and two great grandchildren.
A past member of the ITAM Post 35 Auxiliary as well as a Catholic daughter for over eighty years.
When her sister Marion could drive, they would attend Mass every Sunday, but they did it the Saratoga way. They hedged their bet. This week here, next week St. Clements then back to St. Peters etc. No fools they.
Interesting enough, Mom didn’t know how to swim and never learned to ride a bicycle.
All of this describes what she was, but that’s not why we’re here today. We are here for who she was.
Over the last few years, a sports question has become popular: Who is the goat, G. O. A. T. Greatest
Of All Time. It’s generated much discussion and interest.
Well today I’m asking another question, who is the noat, N. O. A. T. Nicest Of All Time and nominate our Josie for this prestigious yet gentile title.
Now in sports, when deciding who is the goat, stats and records are used, home runs, td passes etc.
But what criteria do we use when choosing the noat? The Ten Commandments perhaps?
Well maybe, but there are a lot of “thou shall nots” in there.
How about the 8 Beatitudes: words spoken by Christ himself in the Sermon on the Mount on how to become favored in the eyes of God, in other words, being nice.
#1: Pure in spirit, meaning humble, nonjudgmental and sharing all.
I’ll point to her having Mr. Carbone and later, her brother Bart, live with her for as long as possible when they were too ill to be on their own. This was while taking care of Dad after one and before the other.
Just imagine her reaction the day he turned to her and asked: “Who are you?”. Mom thought he was joking, but later when he asked again, she understood, and with a broken heart they proceeded to live at home together through the worst 2 years and more until the last week of his life. A sorrowful check mark.
#2 Those who morn: A drawback to long life is having to grieve for so many, especially those younger. She persevered with stoic resolve, acceptance and dignity. Check.
#3 The meek: I’ll use the terms mild and gentle. Check.
#4 Hunger and thirst for righteousness: Both she and Dad knew only too well the pain of discrimination growing up Italian in those days but never returned the “favor”. Check.
#5 The merciful: Checked because I don’t know of a time in my life when she wasn’t. As an example, when Dad was on the police force, once in a great while he’d bring a woman home late at night. The “guest” had partied so hard her actions had gotten her arrested. Normally it would mean an overnight in the holding cell at police headquarters, then a court appearance in the morning. At that time calling the holding cell filthy was an insult... to filthy. Dad just couldn’t do it, so she would be a houseguest ‘til court the next day. Some of the ladies were quiet, but others were, “Do you know who I am?, I won’t let anybody blah blah blah. Mom was fine with it. She understood her “cakie” and loved him for it.
#6 Clean of Heart: I’ll have to give her only 99% on this one. She did enjoy her slightly risqué jokes. As a child of around 8, she was given a paper bag to bring to an aunt and told not to look inside. Of course, she did. It was a little book, which she read, all about a certain German family with an unfortunate last name that rhymed with “sit”. That she could still recite, page for page, some 90 years later.
#7 Peacemaker: This one’s easy: one Italian father, three Italian brothers.. three Italian brothers one bedroom. Check. Check. Check.
#8 Persecuted for Righteousness: Headscratcher on how this fits. Maybe I’ll talk it over with a professional. (Turning to Father Tom)
This is my evidence for Jo being awarded the noat’s crown. I know many of you can add additional examples to these checkpoints.
I’m declaring that the case has been made on her behalf. She is the N.O.A.T. and blessed by God and the rest of us?the rest of us are blessed...for having known her
Joseph Natale
January 15, 2023
Felicia Daniels
January 14, 2023
I have very fond memories of visiting Josie's house when I was little with my mother Rachel. She always very sweet and offered me ice cream. My last visit was 7 years ago. My mother, brother David, and sister Marianne thought the world of her. Please accept my condolences.
Mary Beth LaBelle Printsky
January 14, 2023
Dear John, Phillip, and Joe,
My Mom, Angie Lambert LaBelle, treasured her lifelong friendship with your Mom. They stayed connected all of their lives.
Your Mother was a smart, beautiful, and lovely human being.
May she rest in peace.
Phyllis Crocker
January 13, 2023
John, Phil& Joe
Jo was our lodestar. We all loved her & will miss her greatly.
Phyllis Crocker
Gail Anderson
January 12, 2023
Dear Johnny, Philip and Joey,
I´m so saddened by the passing of your Mom. She was such a Special
Lady. We´ll miss her at our Cousins
Lunches...and miss her awesome
jokes. When we couldn´t remember something we´d ask your Mom. She always had the answer.RIP Josie
Joseph Natale
January 12, 2023
On behalf of my brothers I would like to thank all of our family and friends for their heart felt thoughts and condolences.
I personally want to thank my old friends Debbie, Jack and Narf. Since you were my friends she always thought of you as her friends. She would be deeply moved to know how you felt after all these years.
Debra Wood
January 12, 2023
Dear Joe and family--
Hello cousin, it has been a long time... I'm very sorry for the loss of your Mom. Hoping family and many warm memories bring comfort to you and yours.
Sincerely,
Debbie Wood
mary chiperno casazza
January 11, 2023
Josie will be remembered especially by the cousins' luncheon group as a bright light to our afternoon with fun loving stories or a good joke some of which we would ask her to repeat and she never missed a line. She was such an inspiration to many in her long good and wise life. Sending my sincere sympathies to all of you who loved her.
Jack Pitney
January 11, 2023
So sorry to hear. She always made it so pleasant to visit your house.
Toni Dybowski
January 10, 2023
Dear John and family, I'm so sorry of Mom's passing. She was so special. I enjoyed it when she came to the Prinsappessa dinners with you. She was always so friendly to talk to. With my maiden name being Matrazzo I think down the line we were related. A great lady and I know she will be missed.
Jessica Crocker
January 10, 2023
John, Phil and Joe, So sorry for your loss. Josie always had great optimism and spirit. She was a survivor! She will be greatly missed among her loving extended family. Sending love and prayers to the whole Natale family.
David Howard
January 10, 2023
Phil please accept my Sincerest Condolences.
Marcia Hellwig
January 10, 2023
John Phil And Joe So sorry for your mothers passing. She was one of my very special women called cousins in my life. We were so blessed to travel to Italy twice to see where our wonderful family began. Our cousin travels and lunches are dwindling but the ones of us left will always remember her with love and admiration.
Francis LaBelle
January 10, 2023
To Phil, John and Joe, Your Mom was all that was good about Saratoga Springs, the West Side, Italian-Americans and -- well, she was all that was good. A true sweetheart. Fran LaBelle
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