Josephine Macchiarella

Josephine was born Dec. 1, 1922 in New York City to immigrants from Ficarazzi, Sicily. She grew up in Brooklyn, NY where they lived on top of a bakery. This is where she discovered her love of baking and cooking. When Jo was 11 her family moved back to Sicily because of the “Great Depression.” This is where she met Santo (her brother Leonard’s best friend), married, and moved back to the U.S. They settled in Akron, Ohio because of the rubber factories.

Jo loved to tend her flower gardens, bake and cook for her family, and travel with her dear friend Emma Dickerhoof.

The last 8 years she lived with her daughter Paula and Glenda and became a snowbird. She loved her time in Florida. This is where she received her nickname “MaMa Jo” from Sally Perrin and it stuck. Living on a nature preserve, Jo enjoyed golf cart rides to see all the wildlife and beautiful flowers throughout the winter, but most of all she loved seeing all the wonderful people in Cypress Lakes Village. Her home had a revolving door with many visitors coming and going daily.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Santo, and children, Jack and Angela. Still living is Paula Macchiarella and Glenda Dickerhoof, Maria, John, and Andrea Macchiarella.

“IT TOOK A VILLAGE” The family would like to thank the many wonderful people from Crossroads Hospice in Ohio along with special friends Evvy Kuhne, Grace Dickerhoof, Diane and Bob Shackelford, Karen Szarka and Di Bratt. In Florida, the Vitas Hospice and friends James Nickerson, Ann Langlois, Sharon Newert, Loretta Johnson, Lorrie Baldwin and Ada DelValle.

Family and friends will be received Wednesday, September 6th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home, 547 Canton Rd. Akron (Ellet), OH 44312. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, September 7th at 11 a.m. at St. Eugene Catholic Church, 1821 Munroe Falls Ave. Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.