Josephine G. Napolitano

Josephine G. Napolitano, 98, of Metuchen, died on Friday, August 16, 2024, at St. Joseph's Nursing Home in Woodbridge.
Josephine, known by all as "Aunt Jo," was born in Newark in 1925. She began working at a young age in her family's bakery and moved to Metuchen in 1982. A career woman, she commuted to Newark weekly to NJ Bell, where she worked for 25 years. In her community, she was a communicant and volunteer at St. Francis of Assisi in Metuchen. Considered a matriarch of her family, she maintained traditions of baking pies, desserts, and bread every Sunday and on each holiday. A devout Catholic, you could see her every Sunday in the back left side of the church saying her Rosary. She loved to read, knit, and bake. If you ever spent time with "Aunt Jo," you knew she was truly the life of every party. Moreover, she was committed to selflessly caring for her family, including her father, nephews, nieces, and grandnephews and grandnieces.
She was predeceased by her parents, Antonio and Rose Napolitano; four siblings, Louis Napolitano, Mary Rizzitello, Lucy Vecchione, and Rafael Castellano; two nephews, Louis and Jeffrey Napolitano; and a nephew-in-law, Steven Dale, and her great-nephew, Sean Vecchione Dale.
She is survived by her sister, Ida Tucci of Port Charlotte, FL; her brother, Anthony Napolitano and his wife, Anita, of Metuchen; 13 nieces and nephews: Judith Napolitano of New Hope, PA; Dr. Nicholas Rizzitello and his wife, Maria, of Cedar Grove, NJ; Michael Rizzitello and his wife, Viviana, of Round Rock, TX; Rosemary Rizzitello of Bloomfield, NJ; Lucille Albanese and her husband, Angelo, of Hackettstown, NJ; Linda Vecchione of Bloomfield, NJ; Joseph Castellano and his wife, Teresa, of Florida; Roseanne Castellano of Wisconsin; Dr. Mauro Tucci and his wife, Eileen, of Scottsdale, AZ; Lisa Tucci Brutto and her husband, Joseph, of Port Charlotte, FL; and the three nephews who held her heart: Anthony Napolitano and Dawn of Mt. Pleasant, SC; Marc Napolitano and his wife, Christine, of East Brunswick, NJ; and Michael Napolitano and his wife, Heather, of Metuchen; as well as many great-nieces and great-nephews.
The funeral will take place on Monday, August 26, 2024, at 9:45 a.m. at the Costello-Runyon Funeral Home, 568 Middlesex Ave, Metuchen, followed by a 10:15 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Francis of Assisi in Metuchen. Interment at Holy Cross, North Arlington, will be private at a later date. Visitation will be on Sunday, August 25, 2024, from 1 to 5 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Social Concerns, 32 Elm Ave, Metuchen, NJ 08840 or St. Joseph's Senior Home in Woodbridge, NJ at https://www.stjosephseniorhome.org/contribute/