Josephine M. DeRosa, 88
Dateline: Mansfield, MA
Josephine M. “Josie” (Ramos) DeRosa, age 88, of Mansfield passed away peacefully, in the comfort of her home, surrounded by the embracing love of her beloved family on Wednesday, December 4, 2013.
Born in New Bedford, MA on November 5, 1925, she was a loving daughter of the late Joseph and Rose (Morse) Ramos.
At the young age of two she moved to Brava, Cape Verde. She was educated in Cape Verde schools and when she was fifteen returned to the United States and settled in Fairhaven.
Mrs. DeRosa was a dedicated homemaker to her adoring family and when younger had also been a hair and hand model and had the pleasure of being a nanny for the late actor Danny Thomas’s daughter Marlo Thomas.
A resident of Mansfield for the past 20 years, she had formerly resided in Dorchester and Jamaica Plain. Josie was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Mansfield and loved engaging in activities and socializing with friends at the Mansfield Council on Aging, where she was an active member.
Mrs. DeRosa’s family was the essence of her life. Her hobbies included knitting, crocheting, and collecting swans, dolls, and elephant collectables.
Josie was a loving person and will always be remembered for generosity and charitable nature, and especially for her scrumptious cooking skills.
She is survived by her devoted children, Robert J. DeRosa of California, Deborah C. “GiGi” DeRosa and her spouse Fulani S. Butler of the South End, Michelle DeRosa of Taunton, Helen A. Castro and her husband Jay of Fall River, Danielle L. Barros of Mansfield, Rochelle Shokoti and her husband Ladi of Cambridge, Sonya M. Barros of Boston, and the late Richard Louis DeRosa. She was the dear sister of Theodore “Teddy’ Ramos of New Bedford and is also survived by her cherished grandchildren, Pamela, Atia, Lee, Paul, Devin, Richie, Jasmine, Nichelle, Dene, Phola, Matthew and Mathias, her great grandsons, Alexander, Treyson and Kamari, her nieces and nephew Juanita, Carly and Lisa. She was the longtime companion of August Barros and the late George Lee.
Her funeral Mass, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be celebrated on Monday, December 9th at 10:30 A.M. in St. Mary’s Church, 330 Pratt St. (Route 106) Mansfield. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Mansfield.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, December 8th from 4:00-7:00 P.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main St. Mansfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Josephine’s memory may be made to the Mansfield Council on Aging, 255 Hope St., Mansfield.
To send her family a message of condolence, please visit www.shermanjackson.com