Josephine "Josie" Rocca

Josephine “Josie” Rocca, age 82, passed away on July 12, 2020 in a tragic car accident while driving to Creative Church in Hardeeville, SC. She was born on March 12, 1938 in Locri, Reggio Calabria, Italy to Caterina and Antonio Mazza. She came to the United States from Italy on July 10, 1956 and was proud to become an American Citizen in 1961. She was married on October 3, 1959 to Vito B. Rocca who preceded her in death in February, 1992. They lived in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada for the first few years of their marriage before moving back to the United States.

Josephine adored people and loved to be a servant of Christ. She always enjoyed entertaining company, cooking homemade meals, and baking bread and biscotti for her family. She also shared her love of preparing meals with her five children and serving others in the food pantry at Creative Church.

For many years of her life while raising her children, Josephine worked as a seamstress and a tailor, a trade she learned beginning at the age of four.

Josephine loved God and was an active member of Creative Church where she attended for 8 years. Her life was a living example of Ephesians 4:32 — “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ,” and her favorite verse in the Bible was Psalm 91.

Josephine is survived by her five children, her daughters Maria Smith, Kathleen Riley, and Valentina Facteau; her sons, Francesco Rocca and Benito Rocca; her son-in-law, Terry Smith, daughter-in-law, Tonia Rocca; her grandchildren, Robert Riley, Christina and Caterina Riley, Angelina Rocca, Francesco Rocca, Jr., Samuel Facteau, Gianna Rocca, Isabella Facteau; and her great grandson, Michael Riley. All of these she loved so dearly.

Please join us in celebrating her life Saturday morning July 18, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. at Creative Church, 1293 Plantation Drive, Hardeeville, SC 29927. There will be an hour for individuals to pay their respects and a funeral service at 11:00 a.m.  A grave-side memorial service will be held at St Michael’s Cemetery, Springfield, MA the following week as well (date to be determined).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.