Obituary of Josephine Gismondi

With a heavy heart we announce the death of Josephine (Jo) Gismondi who passed away surrounded by loved ones at Hospice House in Ocala on April 18, 2021.  She was 93 years old.

Jo was born in New York City on June 11, 1927.  She graduated from Central Commercial High School in the Bronx, New York.  Jo met her husband at a college dance in New York City and two years later they were married on May 15, 1949. They were together 71 years and raised 3 children.  Jo stayed home and raised her three children until she was 49 years old. She then became an administrative secretary at Cathedral High School in Manhattan where she worked for 15 years.  She enjoyed her work and I think it gave her a great sense of accomplishment to earn her own paycheck. 

Jo was active as a mother and participated in the Mom’s club and special events at her parish St. Adalbert’s in Elmhurst.  She often filled in driving or feeding teams that her husband coached.  No one was a stranger in her home.  When she retired, she and her husband moved to Palm Harbor Florida as snowbirds where they were active in the Italian American Club of Greater Clearwater.  With this group she made many friends; she bowled and attended bi-weekly dinner dances and special events with her devoted husband.  For the summer months Jo and Nick would return to their second home in the Poconos. There they joined the Italian American club in Pennsylvania as well and participated in many events.  Jo and Nick were Bocce Champions many times in the competitive league in Hemlock Farms. Jo and Nick enjoyed traveling and took several trips with friends and family. They moved to Ocala three years ago to be closer to their daughter, JoAnne and her family.

Jo was the true matriarch of the family, and a truly devoted wife.  She took incredible care of her late husband. Jo was described as the energizer bunny by all that knew her, she hated sitting still.  Family meant everything to her.  She loved spending time with her nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.  Jo was generous to all.  She never forgot a birthday or special occasion even for her many great nieces and nephews.  This past year was incredibly hard for Jo, she lost both of her loving sons to Covid last April and her husband in December of 2020.  Jo was definitely the strongest woman in the family. She suffered so much loss and heartache recently, her heart finally gave out. 

Jo was survived by her daughter JoAnne Ryan and her husband Tim, from Ocala, Florida; her sisters Marie Deluca of Carmel, New York and Jeri Nelson and her husband George from Charlotte, North Carolina; her sister in-laws who were her sisters Rose Gismondi from Lords Valley, PA and Toni Galizia and her husband Al from Elmhurst, NY ; her daughter-in-laws Ann Gismondi from Franklin Square, NY  and Mary Jane Gismondi from Westfield, N.J.; Her grandchildren Lisa Miller and her husband Phillip from West Hempstead, N.Y; Lori Gonzalez and her husband Ed from Atlantic Highlands, NJ; Christopher Gismondi and his wife Haley from Westfield, NJ; Timothy Ryan and his wife Matti from Pawleys Island, SC; Nicholas Gismondi and his wife Melissa from Staten Island, NY; Nicole Ryan from Boston ,MA; Michael Gismondi from Westfield, NJ; Veronica Ryan from Livingston, AL;  and Thomas Ryan from Ocala, FL; her great grandchildren: Ally, Kera and Summer Miller; Elvis and Dylan Gonzalez; Juliette and Luke Gismondi; and Brooklyn Rose Ryan.  She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and nephews.

Josephine was predeceased by her husband Nicholas, her beloved sons Ralph and Nicholas Gismondi, her mother and father Gerada and Dionysius DiSalvatore, her sisters Grace and Theresa DiSalvatore, Angie Cassell and her brothers Sabatini and Michael DiSalvatore.

A funeral service for Jo will be held at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services (910 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL 34470) at 5:00pm on Thursday, April 22. To virtually attend the service, please follow this link: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/769254983.