Obituary of Josephine DeLucia

Josephine DeLucia, age 87, died peacefully on January 21, 2016. Born August 23, 1928 in Brooklyn, to Dominick and Mary (Marie) Addesso, her family made New Jersey their second home spending summers in Lake Hiawatha. She and her husband Joseph made their home in White Meadow Lake and then lived many years in Randolph before moving to Assisted Living, where she loved being social and involved in daily activities. She was very proud to have served as the Resident Council President; volunteerism was her passion and gift. Josephine worked as a Legal Secretary but will be especially remembered for her compassion, and her legacy is speaking for those who were not heard. In the late 1960s she was a founding member of The New Jersey Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, a parent-driven grass roots organization established at a time when services to mentally disabled children were scarce. The group’s creation of Camp Dolphin was a major achievement, a place that encouraged the development of the social and educational experiences to benefit these special children. In 1975 she was honored as past chairman and for her years of unselfish dedication. She continued advocating through her involvement with The ARC/Morris over the past 35 years. Josephine chaired the Membership Committee for many years; was named Volunteer of the Year in 1994; served as a Board member from 1997-2008; was twice selected as Board President (2000-2002); and in 2004 she and her husband were given the organization’s highest honor for lifetime achievement, the Distinguished Service Award. She is survived by her children Paul DeLucia of Ledgewood; Christine Steinberg and her husband, Bill of Clinton; Francine DeLucia of Mine Hill; her grandchildren Cara Kowalski and her husband, Andrew of Ashburn VA; Billy Steinberg of Clinton; her brother Dominic Addesso; sister Anne Marie Pescherine as well as many nieces and nephews. Josephine was preceded by her husband Joseph in 2005. Visitation will be held from 4-8pm, Tuesday January 26, 2016 at Tuttle Funeral Home, 272 Route 10, Randolph, (Tuttlefh.com). A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church (973-366-0770) 4 Richards Ave, Dover, at 10am on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 followed by Entombment at Gate of Heaven Chapel Mausoleum, 225 Ridgedale Ave, East Hanover. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to The Arc/Morris, PO Box 123, Morris Plains, NJ 07950.