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11/09/2016 - Fresno, CA, USA

(Stockton, CA September 9, 1925 - Fresno, CA November 9, 2016)

Josephine Petrucci, age 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at the Nazareth House on Wednesday, November 9, 2016. 

She was born in Stockton, CA, to Spanish Basque immigrant parents, Pedro San Julian and Julia Garachena in 1925, and was the sixth out of seven children. Her first language was Basque, her second was English, and her third was Spanish. 

A little known fact about this patriotic woman is that for years she was a tireless worker on Election Day at the voting polls. She took Civil Defense lessons and kept bottled water in the basement with other necessities in case of an emergency during The Cold War. 

She was a volunteer secretary at the Newman Center; a volunteer librarian at St. Anthony's School; a volunteer as an Ag Animal Judging Clerk at the Fresno Fair every year; a volunteer for the St. Agnes Hospital Auxiliary Guild; and captain of the Lady's Golf Team at Ft. Washington Country Club. 

Her humility can best be expressed by a phrase she often repeated to her children, "There is no limit to the good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit." 

During the last few years she was lovingly cared for by two very special women, Lillian Fuentes and Marilyn Lanctot at home; and by a caring and kind staff at the Nazareth House. 

She is survived by her devoted husband of 69 years, Vincent E. Petrucci. She was a loving mother to five children, Julianne Calvet, Kristene Scholefield and husband John, Stephanie Weber and husband Doug, Vincent P. Petrucci and wife Terri Lynn, Terrie Antonino and husband Joe; and an adored Noni to 16 grandchildren; and 21 greatgrandchildren. 

A Viewing will be held at Lisle Funeral Home on Monday, November 14, 2016, 10:00 a.m. til 4:00 p.m. A Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Monday, November 14, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be at Holy Spirit on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. The burial will be private. 

To honor her life, any donations may be made to The Nazareth House, 2121 N. First Street, Fresno, CA 93703, where kindness and love abound. 

(Published in the Fresno Bee on Nov. 13, 2016)