Josephine “Jo” (Russo) Spiegel, age 69, of Canton, passed away unexpectedly on October 23 while on vacation in the Galapagos Islands.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, to Sue and Vincent Russo, she was raised in Islip, NY, and graduated from Islip High School. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in education from the State University of New York at Potsdam and her Master’s degree in education from Cambridge College. Josephine taught second grade at the Morrison School in Braintree for more than three decades, retiring in 2005.
She enjoyed traveling the world, reading and meeting with her book club, going to the beach, walking with her sister, drinking pinot grigio and laughing with her friends, spending time with—and especially reading to—her grandchildren, attending the theater, celebrating holidays and especially Christmas Eve with her family and friends, and, much to the chagrin of her children, she was a proud Yankees fan despite living in New England for more than 40 years.
Beloved wife of Walter C. “Wally” Spiegel. Mother of Amy E. S. Theaumont and her husband Ross of Westwood, Matthew V. Spiegel and his wife Katie of Milton, and Timothy J. Spiegel of Boston. “Nona” of Thomas, James, and Margaret Theaumont of Westwood, and William and Mary Margaret Spiegel of Milton. Sister of Theresa R. Barosky and her husband Thomas of Canton and Susan R. Kelliher and her husband Joseph of Walpole. Sister-in-law of Mary Ellen Kristensen of Jacksonville, FL and lifelong best friend of Sally Wild Cook of Windham, NH. Also survived by nieces and nephews Todd and Katie Barosky, Luke Barosky, Mark Barosky and Kathleen Sullivan, Meghan Phillips, Ryan Phillips, Sandra and Carl Rapp, Deborah Fischer, Daniel Kristensen, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews Emma and Charlotte Rapp, Hannah and Kristian Fischer, and Kaylee and Bryce Kristensen. Also survived by many beloved friends, Italian cousins, colleagues, and former students whose lives she touched. Predeceased by brother-in-law Dr. Alfred Kristensen, and nephews Erik Kristensen and Todd Fischer.
Visiting hours at the Dockray & Thomas Funeral Home, 455 Washington Street, Canton, on Tuesday, November 1, from 4-8 p.m. Funeral Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church, 700 Washington Street, Canton, on Wednesday, November 2, morning at 10:30. A private burial will follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to advance the issues that affected her children, causes she cared deeply about: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation New England Chapter (www.jdrf.org or JDRF, 61 Walnut Street, Wellesley Hills MA 02481); Breast Cancer Research Foundation (bcrfcure.org or BCRF, 60 East 56th Street, 8th Floor, New York NY 10022); and Braintree Public Schools (Morrison Elementary School, 260 Liberty Street, Braintree, MA 02184).