Josephine Candela Piedimonte, former longtime resident of Monterey, California, passed away on January 4, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia, after a valiant battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Josephine was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Rosolino and Michelina Candela, on July 24, 1933. She was the older sister to Russell and Sadie Candela. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan in 1956. On May 19, 1957, she married Joseph Piedimonte in Brooklyn, New York. The night they met at the Roseland Ballroom, he told all his friends he had met his wife. In 1958, they adventurously moved from New York to the Monterey Peninsula, where they spent the happiest years of their lives.
She will be fondly remembered as Mrs. Jo, who gave many their first jobs at her cookies shops, Grandma Buffalo’s Chips. She used her creative skills learned at F.I.T. to create memorable cookies and muffins, served up in her 14 stores along the West Coast. Over her lifetime, she was involved in The Children’s Home Society, was a member of San Carlos Parish, and the Italian Catholic Federation.
Josephine is survived by her husband of almost 60 years, Joe, of Atlanta, Georgia. Also, her son Joseph with wife Josie of Salinas, California, and daughter Jodene Vasquez and husband Mark of Atlanta, Georgia. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren, Jonathan Vasquez, Joey Piedimonte, Maria Piedimonte, and Milo Vasquez.
The family respectfully asks that any memorials be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
The family of Josephine wishes to extend our sincere thanks to all the dear friends, family, caregivers, and hospice that helped to make her final years full of comfort and love.
A Memorial Service will be held for her at St. Jude’s Parish in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 2:30pm.
Please express condolences for the family in the comments section below. The Piedimonte family is being cared for by Georgia Funeral Care and Cremation Services, Acworth, Georgia.
