Hornell, New York

Josephine M. “Jo” Carretto – (99) –  lifelong Hornell resident, died Thusday morning (September 19, 2024) at Updyke Willow Ridge Nursing Facility where she had resided for the past six months.

Born in Hornell on August 19, 1925, she was the daughter of Dominic & Rose (Girondo) Carretto.

Josephine attended Hornell High School and later graduated from the Federal Commercial School (Hornell Business School).  She continued her education by taking classes at Union College in Cranford, NJ.

She was employed for about 2 years at the former Koski’s Variety Store in Hornell.  In 1950 she began working as a clerk typist at Foster-Wheeler Corporation in Dansville.  Two years later she was promoted to stenographer.  In 1958 her career took a significant turn when she joined the Accounting Department as a Secretary and by 1967 she served as Plant Accountant.  In 1976 Jo was transferred to the corporate Headquarters in Livingston, NJ when she was promoted to the position of Corporate Payroll Manager.

Josephine is a former Director of the foster-Wheeler Boilermakers Credit Union at the Dansville plant and a member of the FWEC Equal Employment Opportunity Committee.  In 1978, Jo was honored as the recipient of the Tribute to Women & Industry Award.  She retired in 1982.

She was a communicant of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a communicant of St. Ann’s Church where she had served as a member of the St. Ann’s Church Parish Council and for two years as parish council secretary.  Jo was also a former member and former president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Sons of Italy and a former member of the Hornell Women of the Moose.  For five years she served as co-secretary of the Bishop’s Thanksgiving Appeal and for many years was a member of the National Audubon Society.  Jo was a member of both the Dansville 25 Year Club of Foster-Wheeler and the Livingston Office 25 Year Club of Foster- Wheeler.

Jo enjoyed traveling and especially enjoyed her 28 day motor trip through Italy which she took with her best friend, Dorothy “Dottie” Meehan.  She also loved reading mystery novels, rooting for the Buffalo Bills, New York Yankees and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame football team.

Josephine was preceded in death her best friend of 70 years, Dorothy “Dottie” Meehan who died July 27, 2018; 4 brothers, Louis Carretto, Jim Carretto, Dominic Carretto & Frank Carretto; 3 sisters, Grace Armella, Ann Constantino & Sarah Fortuna.

Surviving are several nieces & nephews and several great-nieces & great-nephews.

At Josephine’s request there will be no calling hours.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:00 AM at St. Ann’s Church with Burial in St Mary’s Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Memorial contributions in Josephine’s name may be made to St. Ann’s Academy, PO Box 446, Hornell, NY 14843.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com.