Josephine (Russo) Grimes-Ross, 96, entered into eternal rest on April 7, 2019. She was born to Lawrence and Josephine Russo in Kansas City, MO. She was a lifelong resident.

Josephine graduated high school from St. Aloysius Academy. After high school, she was employed at National Bellas Hess as an Inventory Clerk. Being the dedicated mother that she was, she stayed home with her children anticipating every need. She served as a Room Mother, Cub Scout Leader and Girl Scout Leader. Later in life, she was employed at Montgomery Ward's & Company and then Sears, Roebuck & Company.

It was National Bellas Hess where she met the love of her life and married Clarence Grimes. They were blessed with five children and were married for 51 years. After Clarence's death, she found love again and was remarried to John Ross.

She will be remembered most of all for the kind woman she was and the principled life she led. Her life was a testament to the virtues of honesty, integrity and self-reliance. Josephine was a devout Catholic. As a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, she attended Mass almost daily praying the Rosary and often participating in prayerful devotions.

She enjoyed cooking and baking traditional Italian cookies (fig cookies) for the holidays and special occasions. Her hobbies included: flowers gardening, birdwatching, listening to Italian and Big Band music, playing the organ and writing poetry. She was thrilled to have had her poems published in The Northeast News.

In addition, she enjoyed speaking the Italian language and reminiscing of "Little Italy" by participating in many Italian festivals especially Our Lady of the Audience and the St. Joseph Day Table. God was a living presence in her life. Family Rosaries, Holy Hour processions, frequent Masses and Confession were a Saturday routine. She celebrated all feast and holy days.

She will be missed more that we can express, and we will carry her in our hearts forever.

Josephine is survived by her daughter, Toni Sieben; daughter, Pat Coole and husband, Jim; son, Mike Grimes and wife, Audrey; son, John Grimes and life partner, Lesa Marshall; daughter Teresa Dattilo and husband, Tom Rogers; 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death be her parents, husbands and brothers, Vito, Michael and Frank Russo, and great-grandson, Thomas Matakas.

The Rosary will be prayed at 10 a.m. followed by Visitation at 10:15 a.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 11, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 900 NE Shady Lane Dr., Kansas City, MO 64118. Burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

The family suggests memorial donations to The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL; NorthCare Hospice House; and Our Lady of Mercy Country Home.

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com