Josephine A. Rautio

Josephine Angeline Rautio passed away peacefully in her sleep on the 19th of July 2013 in her room at Saint Mary Home in West Hartford. She was born on August 31, 1919 to Frank and Angelina Filosa Torza in Hartford, CT and graduated from Hartford High School in 1938. She worked as a secretary until she met a handsome submariner from Minnesota, the late Arthur Axel Rautio, at a USO function in Groton. A long distance courtship commenced as Art was posted to the Pacific during the war; they were married while Art was on leave on Feb 24, 1945. After the war, they lived with Angelina in Hartford while Josephine continued to work as a secretary at the Retreat and Art finished his education at Morse College. In November 1948 they welcomed their first and only child, Arthur Matthew Rautio into the world. Josephine was excited to become a full time mother and housewife while Art continued working at his job with the accounting firm, Knust, Evert and Cambria. The family moved to West Hartford in 1954 to Linnard Road and then in 1966 to Cliffmore Road. While Art became a partner in KPMG and Arthur progressed from St Thomas to Kingswood to Rensselaer to HBS, Josephine became an active member in the Connecticut Opera Guild, Boys Town of Italy, and also volunteered at Saint Mary Home. She took up golf along with her husband and became a member of the 9-hole ladies group at Wampanog Country Club. Josephine and Art loved to travel and they took advantage of the conventions and meetings that arose from Art's work and his involvement in the Rotary and NAA Hartford and national organizations. Upon Art's retirement they made their home in Mariner Sands in Stuart, Florida their primary residence while continuing to spend their summers in West Hartford. They continued to travel extensively and remained avid golfers, with frequent golf outings with their friends from the Hartford area and from Mariner Sands. Josephine was also an active bridge player with friends in West Hartford and in Mariner Sands. Shortly after Josephine and Art celebrated their 58th anniversary together in Florida in 2003, Art died suddenly of a heart attack on March 7, 2003. Those that knew them know how hard it was for her to lose Art as they loved each other dearly. Despite her profound loss, Josephine remained active and lived her life independently, until her admission to SMH last year. Her family is truly grateful for the many people that gave her love and support during these difficult final years. Josephine is survived by her son, Arthur, who resides in Maui, Hawaii with his wife Oie; her grandsons, Eric Alexander Rautio, of Brooklyn, New York and John-Paul Arthur Rautio of Toronto, Canada. She was pre-deceased by her brother, Jack Torza, and her sisters, Anne Castagno and Elizabeth Casale. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Joseph Casale, who despite being 94 and in a wheelchair visited her frequently at Saint Mary Home as his wife Elizabeth had done before her death last October. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and their children in both Connecticut and Minnesota. Josephine will be remembered as a special lady by all her relatives and friends for her thoughtfulness, generosity and warmth. Her passions were keeping everyone happy, spicy food and soaking up the sun. Nephews, nieces, grand nephews and grand nieces all remember the great holiday dinners she used to host. She always wanted the best for everyone, especially those close to her. She will be sorely missed by all those that knew her. Visitation will be at Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home, 136 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT from 5 - 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 25. On Friday, July 26, at 11 a.m. there will be a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford celebrated by the Rev. Edward M. Moran. A special eulogy by Josephine's nephew, Dr. Francis Casale of Covina, CA will take place at the Mass with assistance from his daughters, Naomi and Grace Casale. Burial at Mount St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield will follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society. For directions and online condolences, please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com.

Josephine A. Rautio

July 19, 2013