Josephine Madeline (Piccirilli) Durso

Josephine Madeline Piccirilli Durso, 99, of Hamden died peacefully on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at the Hamden Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center with her loving family by her side. She was the beloved wife of sixty nine years to the late James V. Durso. Josephine was born in Bethlehem, PA on September 10, 1922, a daughter of the late Frederick and Anna Castaluce Piccirilli, and was a lifelong Hamden resident. Josephine was a 1944 graduate of Hamden High School, and was class president and chairwoman of the class reunion committee. She was the manager of the former Howland’s and later Steinbach clothing store of Hamden for twenty five years, retiring in 1991, and was a longtime active parishioner of the former St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church of Hamden where she served on many of the church committees. She was also a member of the Ridge Road Senior Center where she help organize dinner dances and bingo. Josephine and her husband loved to dance and attended many local functions over the years, including dances at the Elk’s Clubs and Knights of Columbus, as well as many church dances. They also loved the many trips to Florida with their friends. Josephine's greatest joy however was the time she spent with her family. Josephine’s warm loving smile and kind spirit always shined. Whenever she greeted someone, she would always say “God Bless you and have a rainbow day!” Josephine is survived by her loving daughter Joanne M. Provini of North Haven, her loving son James F. Durso, Jr. and his wife Susan of Killingworth, and several loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her son-in-law Charles Provini, and two sisters, Antoinette Piccirilli and Regina Masciantonio. Josephine’s family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, December 2nd from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. at the Washington Memorial Funeral Home, 4 Washington Ave., North Haven. Her funeral procession will leave from the funeral home at 11:30 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. in St. Therese Church (St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Parish), 555 Middletown Ave., North Haven. Burial will follow in Beaverdale Memorial Park, New Haven. Memorial contributions in Josephine’s name may be sent to the Glioblastoma Foundation, P.O. Box 62066, Durham, NC 27715, online at www.glioblastomafoundation.org or by calling 919-402-1775, or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation (Parkinson’s Disease), P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014, online at www.michaeljfox.org/donate or by calling 1-800-708-7644  www.washingtonmemorialfh.com  

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