Josephine Addonizio

Josephine Addonizio, 89, of Jersey City, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 12, 2026. She was born on October 2, 1936, in Sassano, Italy, and later made her home in Jersey City, where she resided for many years.

Josephine emigrated to the United States in 1957, bringing with her the traditions, values, and resilience of her Italian heritage. She was a devoted homemaker whose home was a place of warmth, comfort, and welcome. Her door was always open, and she expressed her love most clearly through food, hospitality, and generosity. No one ever knocked. Family and friends simply walked in, and Josephine somehow always had enough for everyone.

Some of the most cherished memories were made in her kitchen and around her table. She especially treasured the days spent with her sister Maria, often joined by relatives and neighbors, preparing and preserving tomato sauce, eggplant, and peppers, making wine, and curing sausages. These moments were more than tasks. They were rituals filled with laughter, storytelling, and togetherness that defined her life and brought her great joy.

Josephine was happiest when surrounded by those she loved, particularly her siblings Maria, Cono, Vinny, and Antoinette, as well as her many nieces and nephews, all of whom were always made to feel at home. Her quiet strength, generosity, and steady presence left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband Joseph, with whom she shared 41 years of marriage, her parents Arcangelo Abbatemarco and Filomena DiBella, and her siblings Giovanni, Giovanna, and Vincenza.

She is survived by her devoted children Nicholas Petruzzelli and his wife Jacqueline, Anna Rizzo and her husband Carmelo, Pasquale Addonizio and his wife Carmen, and Filomena Kappock and her husband Brian. She was the proud grandmother of ten grandchildren Melissa, Anthony, Danielle, Jessica, Alyssa, Brian, Olivia, Jack, Nicholas, and Joseph, and a loving great grandmother to Addison, Ruby, Leo, and Luca.

Josephine’s legacy lives on in the traditions she passed down, the meals shared around her table, the doors she always left open, and the deep sense of family she created and nurtured throughout her life. She will be profoundly missed and forever remembered.

Family and friends are invited to honor Josephine’s life at Riotto Funeral Home, 3205 John F Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07306, on Friday, January 16, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday morning, 9:00 AM at the funeral home, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Nicholas Church, Jersey City. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, North Arlington. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Josephine's name to the CTC Academy at this link: CTC Academy Donations