Josephine (Piazza) Urso

Josephine Piazza Urso, 96, passed away on Feb. 1, 2017 at Saint Francis Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Maria (Bosco) and Salvatore Piazza and the wife of the late Paul Urso. She was born in Hartford and resided in Newington for the past forty years. While her husband served in WWII, she joined the women's work force at Pratt and Whitney. Josephine's main focus in life was her family. Nothing gave her greater joy than having all the members of the family together, and keeping our Italian traditions alive, especially with her talent for baking classic Italian pastries and cookies. Her homemade dough and pizzas were the best and she never made just one at a time – there was always many to share. She had a passion for crocheting and knitting and her work was exquisite. From baby clothes and blankets to elaborate tablecloths, she has left us many treasures. After raising her own children, she lovingly raised five of her grandchildren. Mom leaves to mourn, her three children, Marie (Stephen) Cantwell, Harriet (Jim) Rizzo, and Salvatore Urso; and her sister, Santa Di Mauro. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, Stephen (Michelle) Cantwell, Timothy Cantwell, Donna Heath, Mark (Laurie) Rizzo, Jim (Marla) Rizzo, Paula (Venlo) Odom, Deborah (Jim) Ingle, Salvatore Urso, Frank (Shannon) Urso, and Paul (Tracy) Urso; sixteen great-grandchildren, Jeffrey, Taylor, Nick and Luke Heath, Julia Rizzo, Abel Rizzo, Michael, Tracey, and Jeffrey Burto, Melissa (Troy) Monroe, Adriana Cerasani, Zachary, Cassandra and Gabriella Urso, Juanita Burto, and Kelly Chute. She leaves several nieces and nephews and her Chihuahua, Muffy, who she loved and spoiled, and has found a new home with granddaughter Paula. Mom, Gram, Nana – you will be missed. Our family would like to thank the staff at Saint Mary Home in West Hartford for their kind care during our Mom's short stay, especially Pat, her Nursing Assistant and Anna, her nurse. We are grateful for the compassionate care given our Mom for many years from Dr. Philip Karanian. A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, February 6, 2017 at the Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home, 136 South Main St., West Hartford. Burial will follow at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Calling hours will be one hour prior to the service from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. For directions and online condolences, please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com.

Josephine (Piazza) Urso

February 1, 2017