Anastasio, Josephine Marie Celestre
Sept. 6, 1914 - Aug. 11, 2011 Josephine Marie Celestre was born Sept. 6, 1914. She was the third child of Giorgio and Maria Celestre of Berkeley, California. Josephine was married to Sam A. Anastasio in 1933; they celebrated 60 years of marriage until Sam was called home to the Lord on Aug. 24, 1993. While Sam fought in the U.S. Army overseas in World War II, Josephine worked under a civilian contractor driving trucks, amphibians, 18 passenger trucks, jitneys and even had an opportunity to drive a tank. Mom/Nana often said, "If the Army had it, I drove it."
Josephine was known as a wonderful chef of Italian dishes. She spent many years as an interior decorator and LVN but the joy of her life was the countless hours she donated to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Walnut Creek and St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Vacaville.
She went home to the Lord on Aug. 11, at Winsor House/Orchard Acute Care in Vacaville, California with her daughter by her side.
She was preceded in death by her parents Giorgio and Maria; her husband, Sam; her sisters, Frances, Yolanda and Angelina; her brothers, Raphael, John and Umberto; and her son, David. She leaves behind her sister, Elena Celestre Griffing; daughter, Judy (Ray) Ingersoll; daughter-in-law, Wanda Anastasio; grandchildren, Michelle Anastasio, Samantha, Anastasia, Michael and Joshua Ingersoll, Wendy (Cory) Ingersoll Coombs; and great-granddaughter, Melody Faith Coombs.
Visitation and the Rosary will be today at 7 p.m. at McCune Garden Chapel, 212 Main Street in Vacaville. The Funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 1771 Marshall Road in Vacaville. A reception will follow at the parish hall.
Published in The Reporter on August 16, 2011