Giuseppa "Josephine" Nastasi, 87, passed away peacefully at home on November 2, 2023. The Rosary will be prayed at 4:00 p.m. followed by Visitation from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8th at Passantino Bros. Funeral Home. The Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 9th, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Entombment will follow at White Chapel Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any charitable donations be made in her name to the UNICO Scholarship Fund, 3008 NE 102nd Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64155.

Josephine was born March 26, 1936, in Salaparuta, Sicily to the late Nunzio and Margherita (Palermo) Pirrello and immigrated to Kansas City in 1959. She labored tirelessly to provide for her family as a seamstress for Youthcraft Coat Factory for 22 years and then as a prep cook at Italian Gardens. She was a member of the Daughters of Columbus for over 30 years and also a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Josephine's life totally revolved around her family, and she was happiest when she could prepare one of her favorite Italian feasts for her extended family including her specialties: spaghetti and meatballs, pane conzato, pizza, biscotti and cannoli. She persistently demanded that we eat more and would never sit down until everyone was served. She affectionately embraced and kissed everyone until their cheeks were red. She exuded love. Josephine was very generous and always slipped family members a folded bill with the command, "Shhh … don't tell Nonno."

Josephine was preceded in death by her husband of almost 60 years Antonio "Tony", her parents, and siblings Dorotea Messina, Giovanna Pirrello and Gioacchino Pirrello.

Josephine is survived by her sisters Francesca Girraputo and Rosa Croce; sister-in-law Carmela Pirrello; her children Mary Nastasi, Rosa Rocha and husband Nick, Joe Nastasi and wife Laura; grandchildren Nicole Bonacorso (Michael), Vanessa Rocha, Nicholas Rocha, Anthony Nastasi (Jasmine), Louie Nastasi, Frank Nastasi and Anna Nastasi; great-grandchildren Josephine Bonacorso, Milani Bonacorso and Joey Nastasi; and many nieces and nephews in Sicily, Australia and the United States.

Pallbearers:  Vito Pirrello, Nunzio Croce, Anthony Nastasi, Louie Nastasi, Frank Nastasi, Michael Bonacorso

Honorary Pallbearers:  Nunzio Pirrello, Joe Croce, Nick Rocha

The family would also like to thank her caregivers Freda, Olga and Esmeralda and Crossroads Hospice for the care and attention they provided Josephine during the last stage of her life.

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com

The following was written by Josephine's 23-year-old granddaughter, Anna:

B ecause of the language gap, I can't recall a time I sat down and really talked about life with my paternal grandparents, but I know I speak for all of us when I say I never questioned that Nonna loved me. It wasn't just that she told us all the time, "I love you, bedda, good luck!" Even now, I can hear that blessing clearly in my head because of all the times it was repeated on birthdays, Christmases, pasta Sundays and every time in between. Sometimes, I wondered what the luck was for. But I now see it as an enduring wish for our prosperity and success in life.

But I also knew Nonna loved us in her actions. Despite not having much money or worldly possessions, her default setting was generosity. She gave without question or hesitation. The saying, "She would give you the clothes off her back," rang true with her. She would offer you her sweater, her necklace or a plate of meatballs before you had opened your mouth. And we were lucky for it because they were the best meatballs anyone has ever had.

All that generosity was housed in a 4'9" body. It was a running joke that by the time you hit third grade, you were likely taller than her. One of my favorite pictures is of my dad kneeling on the floor at the same height as my nonna standing beside him.

Now at 23, the same age that Josephine was when she immigrated to America, I can scarcely imagine the courage required of her. The uncertainty, the loss, the culture shock. She was newly married and set to start a new life in a new country that spoke a language she didn't know. And whether or not she was thinking of her children or grandchildren or even great-grandchildren when she left, nonetheless, I have the life I have as a result of her sacrifices. While she may not have told me stories of that time or how she felt or what she went through, I am certain that she felt alone, tired, scared and confused. And those are all things I can understand. She was a young woman once too, braving this big world. She was someone's daughter, sister and mother.

If there's anything she has taught me, it's to never sit on the corner of the table, to drink 7UP with your Sunday pasta and most importantly, to live and to love selflessly.

If "I love you" was the only thing we ever said to each other that we both understood, that was enough. I love you, Nonna, good luck.