Obituaries

Josephine M Esposito

September 19, 1927 - February 8, 2016

Burial Date February 12, 2016

2-11-2016 5 to 7 PM

ESPOSITO: Josephine Mary Esposito, 88, of Waterford entered eternal life on Feb. 8, 2016. She was born Sept. 19, 1927 in Uncasville, CT, the daughter of the late Walter and Alice (Callahan) Ywarsky. Along with her big brother John, whom she adored, Josie grew up in Uncasville. She graduated from the former Chapman Technical High School and the New London School of Business. While at Chapman Tech she fell in love with her favorite dance partner, Rudolph “Rudy” Esposito. They were united in marriage on Sept. 23, 1950 in St. John the Evangelist Church in Uncasville. Josie and Rudy never passed up an opportunity to cut a rug and were jitterbugging into their 80’s.Josie loved skiing, sailing and going to the beach. For more than forty years she graced the slopes at Okemo Mountain, where she was thrilled to ski alongside her children and grandchildren. With friends and family, she and Rudy cruised to ports from Long Island to Martha’s Vineyard aboard their boat Halleluiah, named after one of Josie’s favorite exclamations. Many summer days, though, found her gabbing with friends at Waterford Beach or relaxing on her little beach at the home she cherished on the Niantic River. She was also passionate about tending to her lawn and gardens, and was the consummate homemaker, cooking up a storm while keeping everything “Josie clean.”  Through her example, her children learned what it meant to have a strong work ethic. While raising children, she worked tirelessly behind the scenes at Rudy’s Flower Box on Ocean Avenue, and then for many years enjoyed the work, the students, and the staff while employed as the guidance office secretary at Waterford High School. She is survived by Rudy, her beloved husband of 65 years; by her son Gregory Esposito of Gales Ferry, his wife Louise and their sons Michael and Keith; and by her daughter Roxane Drost of Elmira, NY, her husband Bruce and their children, Sean and Serena. She was predeceased by her brother John Ywarsky.The family would like to thank the staffs of Atria Crossroads Place and Fairview Oddfellows Home for their extraordinary kindness and compassion when caring for Josephine as well as all of us. Her family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home, 84 Montauk Ave. New London. The funeral will assemble on Friday at 9 am and proceed to a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, 17 Squire St. New London.   Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association – Connecticut Chapter, 2075 Silas Dean Hwy., Suite 100, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-2338 or St. Joseph’s Church, 17 Squire St., New London, CT 06320.