Josephine Padalino Tortorici

Josephine Padalino Tortorici A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2015 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Bessemer, Alabama for Josephine Tortorici, 93, who died Sunday, March 15, 2015 at Merrill Gardens Assisted Living in Albertville, Alabama, surrounded by loving family members. Father Patrick Cullen, pastor of St. Aloysius Church, will be the celebrant. Interment will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Bessemer, Alabama. Survivors include two daughters Carolyn Wisner and her husband Johnny; Mary Ann Wilson; three grandchildren Alayna Horton, Anthony David Wilson, and James Matthew Wilson; three great-grandchildren Hudson Horton, Lucas Wilson, and Michael Wilson. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Tony Tortorici, and her brother Norman Padalino. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Josephine was born to Marco and Maria Padalino in 1921. Her parents were part of the large community of Sicilian immigrants who settled in Bessemer in the early decades of the twentieth century. They had a small grocery store there. Josephine graduated from Bessemer High School, excelling in all of her classes. She worked alongside her husband Tony for 40 years in their small corner grocery store in Bessemer. Josephine loved life, dressing up, dancing, and traveling with her husband. She cooked wonderful Italian meals over the years for all of her family. She was a strong and independent woman, living alone in her Bessemer home for almost 20 years after her husband died. Josephine communicated her love to her children and grandchildren throughout her life, leaving them with wonderful memories and delicious recipes. One memorable trip she took in 2003 with friends and family members was to Sutera, Sicily, where her parents were born. While she was in Sicily, she attended Mass in the church where her parents were married. It was a lifelong dream of hers to make this trip. Her family gives thanks for the long and fruitful life she was able to lead, and for the many lessons in courage and strength Josephine taught them. And we thank the caregivers at Merrill Gardens and Gentiva-Hospice for providing a loving and caring last home for Josephine. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at St. Aloysius Church from 9-11 on the day of the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made either to St. Aloysius Church, 751 Academy Drive, Bessemer, Alabama 35022/www.staloysiuscc.org; or to the Foundry Ministries, P. O. Box 824, Bessemer, Alabama 35020/www.foundry mission.com. Personal condolences may be sent to the family at Bessemer Brown Service Funeral Home: www.bessemerbrownfh.com. Bessemer Brown Service Funeral Home, 1300 4th Ave. N., Bessemer, Alabama, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Josephine Padalino Tortorici

June 16, 1921 - March 15, 2015