Josephine D. (DeSista) Italiano, 93, wife of the late Frank J. Italiano, of Edward St., Pawcatuck, passed away at the Westerly Hospital on Tuesday, March 1, 2011.
Born in Peace Dale, R.I., she was a daughter of the late Antonio and Antonetta DeSista.
Josephine was employed as a teacher for the Stonington High School for many years until her retirement. She also previously worked as a math and science teacher at Glastonbury, Killingly, and Westerly High Schools. She was a communicant of St. Michael the Archangel Church, a Board member of Stonington Credit Union, as well as a member of both the NEA and CEA. Josephine enjoyed helping students at school and at home with tutoring.
She is survived by her son, Thomas A. Italiano and daughter-in-law, Ginanne of Silver Spring, MD; daughter, Jean I. Gordon and son-in-law David of Westerly; sisters, Melina DeSalvo of Peace Dale and Loretta Haigh of Narragansett; two grandchildren, Kelly J. Gordon of Westerly and Mark J. Italiano of Silver Spring, MD and several nieces and nephews. Josephine was predeceased by three brothers, Americo, Frank and James DeSista and two sisters, Jenny DeSista and Louise Marzilli.
Visiting hours will be held Thursday from 4-7pm in Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly. A funeral liturgy will be held on Friday at 10am in St. Michael the Archangel Church, 60 Liberty St., Pawcatuck. There is no procession from the funeral home to the church. Burial will take place in St. Michael Cemetery, Pawcatuck. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to ORTV, Archdiocese of Hartford, 15 Peach Orchard Rd., Prospect, CT 06712-1052, in Josephine’s memory.

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