Obituary of Josephine Otis

Josephine M. (Calabrese) Otis of Woburn, formerly of Charlestown, MA, Burlington, MA and Bedford, NH, passed away at the Winchester Hospital on Saturday evening, April 11, 2015. The beloved wife of the late John M. Otis who passed away in 2004, she was 82 years old. Josephine was born, raised and educated in Charlestown MA. She was one of three children born to the late Domenico and Archettina Calabrese of Avellino, Italy and Waterbury CT. She is the sister of Domenic Calabrese and his wife, Irina of Brockton and the late Augustine Calabrese and his late wife Catherine Joan Calabrese of Port Charlotte FL. Daughter-in-law to the late James and Grace Otis of West Roxbury, MA. Sister-in-law to Barbara Perkins and the late Frederick Perkins of West Roxbury, the late Michael Otis and his late wife Lois Otis of West Roxbury and the late James Otis of Roslindale. Sister-In-Law to the late Beverly Calabrese and the Late Lucille Calabrese. Josephine was a 1950 graduate of Girls High School, Boston and went to attend Burdett Secretarial College. She began her career at Rivett Lathe Grind in Boston. Josephine and John married on October 6, 1957 at St Mary’s Church in Charlestown and settled in Burlington in 1962 where they would raise their five children. In 1974, Josephine returned to work and began a career as an Executive Assistant to the Building Services Department of Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston for 20 years. She commuted daily to Boston taking the MBTA commuter bus from Burlington to Boston. Josephine was always looking to accept a challenge one of which was entering the technology age of computers while working at Mass Eye & Ear. Josephine and John retired to Bedford NH in 2002. In recent years Josephine and her son James had resided in Woburn. Josephine enjoyed many interests including dancing, bowling, gardening, cooking, reading and stamp collecting. She loved movies most especially Marilyn Monroe and enjoyed legendary singers as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and The Glenn Miller Orchestra. Josephine always looked forward to summer vacations in Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod and special trips to Florida, California and Aruba. Her family was the center of her life. Josephine embraced the holidays and being surrounded by her family, especially with her children, John & his wife Cynthia, of Marshfield, David of Wenham, James of Woburn, Douglas & his wife Christine, of Woburn and Joanne & her husband Joseph of Wilmington. Josephine was blessed to have 11 grandchildren and were the light of her life. John III, Katrina, Zachary, Charles, James, Andrew, Lauren, Alexander, Samantha, Dominique and Joseph III. She loved to attend their events from school plays to sporting events because she knew how special it was to them. Josephine enjoyed reuniting with her cousins, Jean Butera and her husband Michael of Natick and Anthony Minucci of Ashland and many nieces and nephews at family functions. She kept in close touch with her high school friends and connected with them through reunions and letters. She was truly gifted in expressing her devotion to everyone either by a phone call or a heartfelt note written in her elegant handwriting. Josephine will be remembered as a strong, gracious and thoughtful woman who always thought of others first. She will be deeply missed by her children, grandchildren, family and friends and all those whose lives she touched. Josephine was the beloved wife of the late John M. Otis. She was the loving mother John Otis Jr. & his wife Cynthia of Marshfield, David Otis of Woburn, James Otis of Woburn, Douglas Otis & his wife Christine of Woburn and Joanne Silva & her husband Joseph of Wilmington. Sister of Dominic Calabrese of Brockton and the late Augustine Calabrese. Proud grandmother of John III, Katrina, Zachary, Charles, James, Andrew, Lauren, Alexander & Samantha Otis and Dominique & Joseph III Silva. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Thursday, April 16 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Wednesday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery Burlington. Memorials in Josephine’s name may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, Massachusetts Chapter, 29 Crafts St., Suite 450, Newton, MA 02458 www.arthritis.org