Obituary of Josephine Spano

December 6, 2023, Josephine Spano, 89, of Yonkers, NY, passed away peacefully at home with her children by her side. Born on January 6, 1934, Josephine grew up in Yonkers and attended Commerce High School. She met and fell in love with her teenage sweetheart, Leonard Spano. They married on July 12, 1952. She followed him into the desert in California, where he was stationed as a U.S. Marine entering the Korean Conflict. Their adoration for each other deepened with every decade, and through his years of public service as a longtime County Legislator, Westchester County Clerk, and business owner, she remained a supportive force. They were happily married for 67 years. The matriarch of the Spano family, Josephine's life overflowed with love, devotion, and an unyielding spirit. Many touching moments could be written about the profound impact she had on each life she touched. When you walked into the Spano home on Christmas morning, you would see a crowd of family members and only the angel peeking from the top of the Christmas tree. That's because hiding the rest of the tree were wrapped presents piled a mountain high and reaching nearly to the ceiling. Josephine showered her family with gifts; those came in many forms, most notably the gift of love. From the beginning, she instilled the gift of unwavering faith in her family. When their first child Nicholas was born, they celebrated the gift of parenthood, but a year later after losing twin boys shortly after birth, she was told another child would not be in her future. On that day her prayers for intervention to Saint Gerard, the patron saint of motherhood, began and Josephine and Leonard were blessed with 15 more children. For more than fifty years, she hosted a mass asking Saint Gerard for his intercession in helping women faced with the same challenge. To her children, she offered the gift of her guidance, support, and dedication, whether it was sharing a hug or a special private moment. She is survived by her children, Senator Nicholas Spano (Linda), John (Evelyn), Maria Elena, Eleanore (John Kolmer), Leonard (Christine), Joanne (Vincent Finnegan), Rosemarie (Christopher Gannon), Camille (John Zajac), Mayor Michael Spano (Mary), Victoria (Thomas Smith), Anthony (Eva), Dolores (Richard Wilson), Loretta (Luis Eleutice), Gerard (Karly), Joseph (Rosalie), and City Clerk Vincent Spano (Jaime). Her legacy carries on in her 42 grandchildren who meant the world to her: Christina, Lauretta, Lenny, Lenny, Steve, Glen, Joey, Victoria, Josephine, Anthony, Gerard, John, Tommy, Lenny, Dana, Tommy, Franky, Krysta, Johnny, Michelle, Evan, Nicole, Joey, Victoria, Nicholas, Michael, Vinny, Vincent Jr., Scotty, Michael Jr., Lisa, Carly, Alexandra, Angelina, Christopher, Ricky, Lenny, Anthony, Danielle, Lenny, Vincent, and Nico. Her 28 great-grandchildren were her pride and joy: Kacey, TJ, Kylie, John, Joey, Gianna, Dominick, Michael, Mia, Trey, Brooklyn, Alyssa, Giovanni, Josephine, Joey, Ava, Vinny, Milania, Audrina, Maria, Jackson, Sienna, Lucas, Adrianna, Antonia, Christian, Santino, and Francesca. When asked what they'll remember most, her children said her gift of inner strength, her ability to carry a family through a crisis, and her hospitality in welcoming everyone into her home. Her gift of generosity began as a young mom when she served as the President of the PTA at Saint Peter's School and Mount Carmel School, member of the St. Ann Society, head of the lunch program at Sacred Heart, supporter of special needs children, and a volunteer for many charitable causes. A keeper of traditions, whether it be summers by the bay in Mastic Beach with the whole family, a weekend away with her girls, an afternoon of bingo, Easter morning with baskets for each of her grown-up children, a talk over a cup of tea or a glass of red wine, she always put others first. As a young girl, Maria Elena may have said it best when she wrote, "Thank you, Mom, for always being there and being you. If I had a chance to pick my mom, I would have picked you." To her children, Josephine will forever be their guiding light, their cherished friend, and their angel. Visitation hours are Thursday, December 7, and Friday, December 8, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sinatra Funeral Home in Yonkers. The funeral will be held on Saturday, December 9, at 8:45 a.m. at St. Peter's Church on Riverdale Avenue in Yonkers.