Josephine "Jo" (Montalbano) Kane, a resident of Melrose for over 40 years, died on Monday March 31, 2008, at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital following a lengthy illness. She was 78 years old.
Jo was born in Boston on April 27, 1929. She grew up in Everett where she attended Everett Public Schools and graduated from Everett High School in 1948. She worked for Compensated Devices Inc. (formerly D.M. Semiconductor) of Melrose, as a quality control electronic tester and retired after 16 years of service. Jo also worked for 10 years at Clement's on Main Street, Melrose, a specialty boutique as saleswoman. She was a Girl Scout Leader, volunteer at the Green Street Baptist Church Bean Suppers, a Red Cross Volunteer and a volunteer at the Trinity Episcopal Thrift Shop. In her retirement years, Jo enjoyed writing and receiving weekly letters from old friends and distant relatives, reading and making embroidered projects to give as gifts.
Jo is the wife of the late Clifford E. Kane. She is the devoted mother of Kathleen Ward and her husband Thomas of Melrose and Colleen Whary and her husband Mark of Reading. She is the loving grandmother of Kyle and Ryan Ward of Melrose. She is the step-mother of the late Timothy Kane and step-grandmother of Dana Kane of Worcester, Jamie and Chris Whary of Ayer. She is the sister of Flora Spinale of Melrose, John Montalbano of Medford and the late Anna Montalbano.
Jo's Funeral will be held on Friday, April 4, 2008, at 8 a.m. from The Carr Funeral Home, 1159 Main Street, Melrose, followed by her Funeral Mass in The Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main Street, Wakefield, at 9 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours for Jo will be on Thursday, April 3, 2008, from 5 to 8 p.m. Burial will at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.