Josephine Ferro passed away peacefully at Columbia View Lodge, on November 14, 2013 after a long journey with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Jo was born in Trail on April 5, 1921 the youngest of five children. She told great stories about growing up in Trail; including swimming in the Columbia River, hiking the road to Rossland and wonderful train rides to Nelson. A hairdresser by trade, Jo was a pioneer for women in business, owning her own hair salon on Bay Avenue.
In 1945 Jo married the love of her life, Mono, and together they raised 3 children and neighbourhood of swimmers. Mom’s gracious hospitality was her specialty and friends and family were at the top of her list. An opportunity was never missed when ravioli could be served, hamburgers flipped and cacchiatori simmered on the BBQ. The backyard was her mecca.
Mom was an avid golfer and even when Alzheimer’s had taken hold, special friends could still get her out on the fairways – she never lost that talent.
Mom and Dad enjoyed a great life together. As long-term snowbirds, they spent 25 years wintering in Palm Springs, their ‘Fantasy Land’ as they called it, enjoying each other, their friends and the magic of retirement.
Jo is survived by her son Paul (Allana) Ferro, daughters Cathy (Ian) McAlpine and Sue (Garry) Bock all of Trail; grandchildren Amy (Brett) Johnson, Keri (Cam) Ferguson; Richard (Donna) McAlpine, Diane (Sean) Jeffers; Jarrod (Tina) Graf, Joel Graf (Candice) and Tim Bock (Christina). Noni would be thrilled with all her great-grandchildren: Olivia, Jianna and Bethany; Jordyn and Jaxon; Grace and Ariana; Gocean; Dayton and Delylah; Brooke and Paisley, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jo was predeceased by her husband Mariano (Mono) Ferro, her siblings Bridie Woytella, Art Kelly, Lil Hughes, Hannah Rinaldi and her granddaughter Katie Bock.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, November 22, 2013 at 11:00 am at Holy Trinity Parish with Father Jim McHugh, Celebrant. Bill Clark and Jordan Wren of Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services™ has been entrusted with arrangements.
Memorial donations can be made in memory of Jo to the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital Health Foundation with funds directed to Columbia View Lodge, 1200 Hospital Bench Road, Trail, BC, V1R 4M1 or online at www.kbrhhealthfoundation.ca
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence at the family’s online register www.myalternatives.ca