Josephine Stephanie Furano

Josephine Stephanie Furano, 86, passed away peacefully with her daughter at her side on Saturday morning February 11, 2023 at the St. Joseph Health Center. She was born in Filbert, Pennsylvania on March 3, 1936 a coal miner's daughter of Martin and Stefka (Bilak) Yaras.

Josephine was a graduate and band majorette at Redstone Township High School in Republic, PA and attended the William Penn School of Business. She was a stenographer with an insurance company in Brownsville, PA, an underwriter with the Lloyd's of London at the Alexander Insurance Company in Pittsburgh, PA and worked at the Union Switch and Signal Company a division of Westinghouse in downtown Pittsburgh, PA. She was the manager of the Harvest House coffee shop and cafeteria at the Eastwood Mall and retired as a cafeteria cook at the Niles City Schools. Josephine was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Niles. She enjoyed playing bingo, cards, slot machines and flower gardening. She loved traveling to the casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Canada, West Virginia and Austintown with her husband and later her daughter. When the doctor said "nothing is wrong with her, she's perfect, take her to the casino", her daughter fulfilled her wishes and SO enjoyed taking her.

Josephine is survived by her loving and caring caregiver, her one and only daughter, Stephanie Dominica Furano with whom she made her home; sister, Julia Parson of Romeoville, Illinois; sister-in- law Theresa Ferrell of Medina; nieces and nephews, Raymond and (godchild) Janice Garito Parson, Barbara Parson, Anthony and Sharon Grezsiak. Her godchildren Susan (David) Rudinsky Weaver, Dennis (Jackie) Garito and Denise Ferrell. Her dear friends Dorothy "Baba" Marchio, Tessa "Tessie" Rudinsky, Josephine "Jo" Villecco.

She will be greeted in heaven by her loving husband of 63 1/2 years Richard Donald Furano whom she married on December 29, 1956 and who passed away on June 3, 2020; brother, John Yaras; three sisters, Sophia (Mike) Grezsiak, Thelma (Chuck) Walters, Anna (Louis) Grezsiak and infant twin siblings.

Calling hours will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at the Holeton-Yuhasz Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 17, 2023 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church preceded by a 12:30 p.m. prayer service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Pineview Cemetery.

The family would like to acknowledge the kind and compassionate care of all who took care of Josephine, especially Mary Louise Anspach and Joyce Anspach for their at home care, doctors and nurses at St. Joseph Hospital during her many visits, Dr. Husain, Dr. Mahjoub, Dr. Malvasi and Hospice of the Valley.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Mt. Carmel Parish Family Center Building Fund or the American Diabetes Association.

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