Josephine A. Garofalo Jones, 94, of 33 Mechanic St. passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord at Chenango Memorial Hospital on Saturday, October 9, 2021. Josephine was born in Norwich on May 6, 1927 to the late Joseph and Rose Taranto Garofalo. She was a lifelong resident of Norwich and attended Norwich City Schools. She was also a lifelong member of St Bartholomew Catholic Church where in August of 1946, Josephine married Robert S. Jones, who passed away in May of 1983. As a young woman, Josephine worked for a short time at Norwich Pharmaceuticals and the Norwich Knitting Mill before spending over 35 years at the Norwich Shoe Factory.
Josephine was the last surviving child of Joseph and Rose Garofalo’s nine children. Her predeceased siblings were Angelina (Stephen) DeLucia, Grace, Nancy, George (Ann) and John (Marilyn) Garofalo, Rose (Wayne) Forester, JoAnn (James) Smith, and Phyllis (Pete) Levesque.
Josephine was a devoted and loving mother, who along with Robert, was blessed with four children who survive, Robert (Jackie) Jones, of Tuscon, AZ; Thomas (Sharon) Jones, of Norwich; Rose Marie (Kenneth) Steward, of Norwich; and John Jones, of Sherburne; 11 grandchildren, Rebecca (Scott) Kopiec, of Tuscon, AZ; Matthew (Megan) Jones, of Chatham, NJ; Andrew (Jeannie) Jones, of Maplewood, NJ; Erica Jones, of Norwich; Kelly (Daniel0 McNelly, of Moodus, CT; Kenneth Steward, of Canton, NY; Lee Jones, of Norwich; Allison (Sean) Beam, of Mobile, AL; Danica Jones, of Smyrna; Carter Jones, of Oxford; and Seth Jones, of Oxford. Josephine was also blessed with 13 great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Owen Kopiec; Nickolas, Ella, Madalyn, Riley, Amelia, Hope, Serenity, Levi, Rian and Lane Jones; and Isabell Beam; as well as many nieces and nephews whom she adored.
Many thanks go out to the staff of Norwich Rehabilitation, UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital and the staff and residents of Golden Age Apartments where Josephine resided for the last 30 years. A heartfelt thank you also goes to her nieces, Kathy Gibbon and Donna Smith and her nephews, Michael Garofalo and OJ Levesque as well as friends, Lois Lawrence and Laurie Root for all they have done for her over the years. A special thank you to Chrissy Shuman for her many years working with Josephine, allowing her to keep her independence for a long time.
“Until we meet again, we will think about you always, we will talk about you ‘til, tou shall never be forgotten, of course you never will. We will hold you close within our hearts and there you will remain, to walk and guide us through our lives, until we meet again.”
In keeping with Josephine’s wishes, there will be no formal services. A celebration of her life will take place at a future date. Those wishing may make donations in Josephine’s memory to St. Bartholomew’s Church, 81 E. Main St. Norwich, NY 13815.
Arrangements have been entrusted to R.J. Fahy Funeral Home.