JOSEPHINE (COLARULLO) IAMELE, age 107, a resident of Our Island Home on Nantucket and formerly of Hingham, died on Thursday, March 27th of natural causes. Josephine Iamele or "Jo", as everyone called her, immigrated from Formia, Italy in 1905 at the age of 5, as a steerage passenger on one of the first ocean liners. She remembered holding her fathers hand as they navigated through the huge galleys with their giant pots to go up and find fresh air on the steerage passenger deck, and how magnificent it was to land at Ellis Island.
Originally, Jo, along with her six brothers and sisters lived in Newton. With the passing of their parents the grown children spread out around Massachusetts, with the majority moving to Hingham, where Jo herself lived for the better part of 50 years. She was living independently in her own apartment in Hingham until she had a fall in 2002. At the age of 102, she then moved to Nantucket to live with her granddaughter and subsequently became a resident of the Island Home.
Jo will be remembered for her kindness toward others, her laughter, her sense of humor and her great spirit. She was called a walking history book by many and loved to talk about her life and what she had experienced. Jo could remember amazing changes and events of the last 100 plus years. The first automobiles, the Wright Brothers and the start of airplanes, the Great Depression of 1929, the invention of television and radio, two world wars, space travel, all the way to the present day. She had seen and lived through it all!
The things she loved to do most were cooking, sewing, singing, gardening and taking care of friends and family. When she was still in her apartment, whenever anyone would come over, there was always something on the stove and she would always ask "Are you hungry? Can I get you something?" The great smells from her kitchen would make you want to stay and eat, hungry or not.
Even after being admitted to the Island Home, Jo would always share whatever she had with everyone, especially chocolate, which she loved. Her other favorites were Italian Wedding soup and tomato sandwiches on Portugese bread, which the staff, family and friends would always get for her. Jo loved to tell about her recipes and how she would cook things if she were making it, as if she were making it for you with her words. Her favorites were her Green Tomato Relish, Pineapple Jelly, Toll House Cookies, and, of course Tomato Sauce. All made with her secret ingredient, love! She was a truly kind and giving person. She has touched many lives and will be sorely missed by all who loved her.
Wife of the late Louis Iamele, she was the mother of Florence Schoonard of Altoona, FL and the late John Iamele. Sister of Ernest Colarullo of Hingham, Eleanor Fields of Northfield, MA, the late Vioila Giardino, the late Genevieve Barber, the late Ernestine Catavalo and a brother who died in infancy. Grandmother of Lesley Iamele of Nantucket, Timothy and Walter Schoonard of Florida; and great grandmother of Raymond Asselin of Nantucket, Bryan and Bradley Schoonard of Florida.
A Graveside Service will be conducted on Saturday, April 5th at 1:00 PM at the Newton Cemetery, 791 Walnut St., Newton Center, preceeded by a procession from the Downing Cottage Funeral Chapel, 21 Pond St., Hingham at 12 Noon. For directions, go to www.downingchapel.com.
Her family would very much like to thank all the staff and her friends at the Island Home for taking such care of Jo over the last few years. Thank you for all the kindness you have shown her and attention to all her needs. At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Our Island Home -Activities Dept. Fund, 9 East Creek Rd., Nantucket, MA 02554.