Josephine M. Birardi (née Sanzone) of Somerset, NJ passed away peacefully on October 2, 2022 at St. Peters Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ.  She was 101 years old.  Born in New York City on June 9, 1921, she was a first-generation Italian-American.  Josephine lived through the Great Depression and proudly graduated from James Monroe High School in the Bronx.  Following WWII, she married and settled in Jamesburg, NJ. Josephine then relocated to Edison, NJ and finally to East Brunswick.  She was employed as an administrative assistant by AT&T.  She supported and raised five children as a single parent.  Josephine was a faithful Catholic and proudly professed her faith and shared it with others.  She had a particular devotion to Our Lady through the Miraculous Medal. Faith, family, and hard work were the backbones of her long and rich life.

Predeceased by her beloved son William Birardi in 1989 and beloved daughter Jean in 2018, Josephine is survived by her loving children Jo Ann Gerling and husband Deacon Bob, Marie Tasy and husband Greg, daughter Elizabeth Birardi and daughter in law, Carol Birardi; twelve grandchildren: Chris, Jeff, Michael, Wendy, Lauren, Taryn, Kaylin, Brannon, Brielle, Arianne, Dana, and Luke; and 17 great-grandchildren: Rebecca, Joseph, Logan, Arabella, Fynn, Kobyn, Clea, Kyla, Payce, Dashl, Tayden, Lola, Della, Tula, Gabriel, Quinton, and Cameron.

Family and friends will be received Wednesday 4:00pm – 7:00pm at the Bronson and Guthlein Funeral Home of Milltown, NJ.  The funeral mass will be celebrated Thursday 10:00am at Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church, Milltown followed by burial the Hillside Cemetery of Metuchen, NJ.

Memorial donations can be made to New Jersey Right to Life, Piscataway www.njrtl.org and Life Choices Resource Center, Metuchen www.lifechoicesrc.com

Eternal rest grant unto Josephine, O Lord,
and let Perpetual Light shine upon her.
May her soul and the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
~Amen~