Josephine ‘Jo’ Venuto Zingraff, born November 5, 1916, departed this world on Tuesday, March 29, 2016. Her unwavering faith in God and love of family saw her through more than a decade of the cruel clutches of dementia.
Jo, as she called herself after reading Little Women, was the first-born of Joseph and Katie Venuto.
Josephine walked into the peaceful embrace of her Lord to join her beloved husband, John Zingraff; her little sisters, Catherine V. Zingraff, Lucille V. Jones, Mary V. Woodard and Angeline V. Fitzpatrick.
She is survived by her brother, James Joseph Venuto, and her baby sister, Cecelia V. Giefer, both of Norfolk; and four children, John J. Zingraff of Berlin, Germany, and his wife, Suzanne, Edward M. Zingraff of Cologne, Germany, and his wife, Uli, Ann E. Zingraff-Newton of Virginia Beach, and her husband, Jim, and Regina Z. Tefft of Virginia Beach, and her husband, Chris. Jo adored her seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and they adored her.
Jo loved her large, extended Italian family and its delicious food, politics, an energetic debate, great books, beautiful art and good music. She believed in the value of a democratic society and the necessity of an educated, participatory citizenry to support it. Throughout her life, Jo could be found researching issues, defending causes and enthusiastically involved in her community and church.
In her 99 years, Jo touched the lives of many with her kindness, compassion, love and laughter. She taught us all much about how to live and care for others and the world we live in. Words cannot express how deeply she will be missed.
‘Please remember I will love you all for eternity and will be watching you. Watch for me!’ — Jo, 2003
Jo and family may be visited from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, 2002 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23454. A Mass of the Resurrection will take place at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 712 Little Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23452, followed by burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Norfolk.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
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