Josephine Ann “Jo” Foderaro, age 89 years, of Flemington, NJ, died peacefully in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 9, 2021 at Saucon Valley Manor, Hellertown, PA after complications with Covid-19.

Born in Astoria, Queens, NY, August 4, 1931, daughter of the late Frank and Noemi Coppa Cima, Josephine was raised in Somerville, NJ, then had lived in Ringoes and Flemington, NJ.

With her father passing away when she was only four years old, her mother, now a young widow, was left to raise four children on her own. Many years later, her mother would remarry a man named Emilio Loreti, whom Josephine would lovingly call ‘Pop’.

Emilio and Noemi settled in Ringoes, NJ, and opened a family restaurant catering to homemade Northern Italian cuisine. They became the original owners of ‘The Watchung View Inn’, which is now known as ‘The Bridgewater Manor’.

Graduating from Somerville High School in 1949, she worked and spent a lot of time at Charlie’s Farm Inn located in NJ, and also worked for many years at both Stangl Pottery and Pfalzgraff. It was here where Josephine made friends, both with her colleagues as well as with all the consumers who flocked to the factory and the store during the 1970’s and 1980’s.

It was at her Mother and Pop’s restaurant, where Josephine would meet a young Frank Foderaro when he would come to the restaurant with his family while on leave from his military tour of duty.  After several attempts of asking Josephine for a date, she finally agreed, and on January 12, 1957, the two would wed at St. Bernard’s Church in Raritan.

The couple would have two daughters, Laura and Karen, who were the light of the young couple’s eyes. They shared a wonderful life of love and joy until Frank’s untimely death in 1986.

Josephine loved the family gatherings that often took place at her home. With Frank also coming from a large family, she was known on both sides of her family as a wonderful cook, much of which she learned as a child from her Mother as well as from working in her Mother’s restaurant. Holidays would always find Josephine prepping and cooking for a large group, and there was nothing more special to her than seeing the smiling faces of her family gathered around her table in peace, enjoying her food and spending time together.

Josephine was a caring person: truly a loving wife, daughter, mother, and grandmother who unselfishly took care of her husband throughout his illness, and also her mother as she aged.

A voracious reader, she would read anything she could get her hands on. She had many authors whom she admired, Including Danielle Steele and James Paterson; their  novels were some of her favorites. Josephine would read multiple novels simultaneously, keeping all the plots straight and never able to get enough. The best present anyone could give her, besides their company, was a good book which she could then discuss with that person.

She also enjoyed cross stitch; she embroidered many tablecloths which she passed on to her family. Crossword puzzles, rooting for the New York Mets, and spending time with her Grand-pups, Molly and Mitzi and enjoying millions of doggy kisses, were also favorite pastimes. The New York Mets made her both smile and cry, and Josephine, being the faithful woman she was, would pray for them often at St. Magdalen Church, Flemington, NJ, where she was a longtime communicant.

With a personality that complimented her never-fading smile, Josephine was simply a good and kind person who loved her family, her friends, and her God.  To her family she will be remembered as “Mom and Grandma” and “Aunt Jo”, the strong independent woman she was; the caregiver, the forgiver, the supporter, who was always there to help lend a hand and who always put herself last. To her friends, she will be remembered as “Jo”, a trusted, happy, caring friend always with a smile on her face and a good word for all.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Ryan Goldt in 2011, a granddaughter, Jessica Tosco in 2016, and her siblings, Enez, Violet, and Frank.

Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Laura and George Guarino; a daughter, Karen Tosco and companion Daniel Janiszewski; her grandchildren, Matthew Goldt and Rebecca Tosco; her great granddaughter, Elizabeth Ann Tribbett; a special cousin who was like a sister, Victoria Farneski; two sister-in-law’s, Rita Cima and Antionette (Toni) Vladyka; her granddogs, Molly and Mitzi; several extended family members; and many dear friends.

Jo will lie in repose on Thursday, January 14, 2021 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

A Mass of Christian Burial, officiated by Rev. Matthew Marinelli, will be celebrated at St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ on Thursday, January 14, 2021 beginning at 11:00 a.m..

Following mass, Josephine will be laid to rest at St. Magdalen Cemetery, North Main Street, Flemington, NJ, next to her beloved husband, Frank, and with her cherished grandson, Ryan.

Kindly remember that given the current state of the pandemic, masks must be worn at all times on funeral home, church, and cemetery grounds, and social distancing must be maintained. Please follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival at each location.

You are encouraged to visit Jo’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

For those who wish to honor Jo, contributions in her honor may be made to the New Jersey Sharing Network, (on the check please note: In honor of Jessica Tosco), 691 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974 or online by clicking HERE. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated by the family. Jessica was Jo’s beloved granddaughter who gave the gift of life to so many and of whom Jo was so proud.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”