Azusa, CA

Josephine Stamatis was born in Meadville, PA, and passed away in Glendora, California at 96 years old. She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter John Stamatis, her parents Anna Costanzo and Jack Radicella, Sicilian immigrants, and siblings, Rosalie (Peter) Scimone, Jerry Radicelli, Frank (Dolores) Radicella and Cecelia (Louis) Carey, all from Cleveland, OH. During WWII, her family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. She quit school before her 12th grade, and worked as a riveter in the defense industry to help support her family.

After the War, Josephine’s brother, Jerry introduced her to a friend a neighbor he met in radio school, Peter Stamatis, and they fell in love. Josephine’s mother wouldn’t give them permission to marry because Peter was not Italian or Catholic. He converted to Catholicism, and Josephine and Peter were married on June 21, 1947. Shortly after marrying, Peter and Josephine moved to Arcadia, California.

By the beginning of 1949, Josephine was 6 months pregnant, and only ninety-eight pounds. She was losing weight rather than gaining weight. Her doctor told Pete that she was “homesick.” They packed up and moved back to Cleveland. She and Peter had three children, but by 1958, Peter had numerous health issues, and his doctor recommended they move to a warmer/dryer climate.

In Jan 1959, Peter traveled to Calif to secure employment and a home for the family. Josephine stayed in Cleve to care for the children, sell their home and pack their belongings.

In July 1959, she traveled by train with her three children, ages 1, 6, and 10 years old, to the 3-bedroom home that Peter had purchased, in Azusa, CA. Peter’s father and half-brother also moved into the house.

Josephine took care of everyone. She worked at the Man’s Shop at the Foothill Shopping Center, Victor Hodge Elementary School and Foothill Junior High School. She was active at the Azusa Senior Center for more than 20 years, until her stroke in 2015.

Josephine is survived by three children, Viola (Doug) Swanstrom, Nick (Lisa), and Peter John Jr. (Cindy); four grandchildren, Nicole (Jeremy) Huyck, Melissa Ortiz, and Seth Stamatis, and step-grandson, Jeff Swanstrom, and six great-grandchildren, Johnathan, Jackson and Jace Swavely, Avalon and Cainan Hunt, and Robbie Ortiz, and her beloved sister-in-law, Casimina Radicelli.

Services will be held on Monday, October 14, 2024, at Oakdale Memorial Mortuary and Cemetery Chapel.

Visitation and Rosary will be at 10AM, Memorial Service at 11AM, with the burial at Noon. A reception will follow.