Josefa Diaz Saez

Josefa Diaz Saez, age 85, went to be with our Lord when she died peacefully at her Dorchester, MA residence on February 5, 2025.
Josefa was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Catalino Figueroa, and is survived by her 6 children: Nilsa Carrasquillo of Attleboro, MA; Charles Figueroa & wife Frances of Orlando, FL; Jaime Figueroa & wife Liliana of Quincy, MA; Teresa Figueroa of Boston, MA; David Figueroa & wife Zenaida of Brockton, MA and Nancy Sedlacek & husband Paul of Stafford Springs, CT. Josefa is also survived by 9 grandchildren: Dennis Carrasquillo, Lindsey Carrasquillo, Stuart Figueroa, Allison Figueroa, Kevin Figueroa, Leslie Ann Roman, Christopher Figueroa, Jazzlyn Figueroa, Emily Borgos, a younger sister, Carmen Melendez, and 4 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Josefa was born on March 19, 1939 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico to parents Damasa Saez and Antonio Diaz. As the eldest daughter, as a teen, Josefa took leave of her schooling to work to support both of her ailing parents and her younger siblings only to finish her schooling during night school in her late teens. Endeavoring for a better life, in 1966 Josefa followed her husband Catalino Figueroa with 4 young children in tow to Boston, Massachusetts to start a new chapter with better opportunities for her family despite greatly missing her native home in the Caribbean. Josefa again understood the great sacrifices that mothers and wives make for their families and was dutiful.
In her personal life, Josefa was a prayer warrior and spent hours on her knees advocating for many people and causes. She had a desire to be a missionary but as her family grew to 6 children, Josefa realized it was not feasible for her to engage in missionary work and neglect her family, and instead for years supported missions work abroad monetarily. To the amazement of all that heard her, she also had a gift for eloquently reciting religious poetry.
It goes without saying that Josefa loved her children and also loved her pet dogs that were near and dear to her heart. She was especially happy in her retirement years when she had relocated back to Puerto Rico and lived happily in a modest home with her beloved dogs until she returned to the USA to pursue better medical care.
Josefa will be missed by all who knew her and though she may be gone here on earth, she is resting in eternal bliss with her husband and dogs by her side.
Immediate family is invited to attend a private viewing at the Casper Funeral Home, 187 Dorchester Street, Boston, MA 02127 on Wednesday, February 12th from 10am to 12pm, followed immediately by the burial at Oak Lawn Cemetery, 427 Cummins Hwy, Roslindale, MA 02131.