Josephine Theresa Balletta, of The Villages, FL, passed away peacefully on December 2, 2017 at the Cornerstone Hospice in The Villages, FL. She was 83 years old.
Born Josephine Mercado in the Bronx in 1934, she met her husband Louis there in the late 1950s, while she was working as an office professional in Manhattan. They were married on April 11, 1959. Between 1963 and 1999 they lived in New Jersey, first in Lodi and then in Manalapan, raising their two sons, Dominick and Michael.
In 1999 they moved to The Villages, where Josephine was very involved in the community, including the creation of a support group for people undergoing dialysis. She was also a supporter of her church, St. Timothy’s, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and The Shriners’ Hospital.
Josephine is survived by her beloved husband Louis, her sons Dominick and Michael, her daughter in laws Dr. Ilene Wilets and Debbie Balletta, grandchildren Ethan, Justin, Stephanie, Michael Jr., and Angela, along with great grandchildren Brooke and Anthony. Her family also includes Tina, Ronald and Margaret Bersch, a small army of nieces and nephews, an extensive family network, and a vast circle of friends across The Villages, New York and New Jersey.
A visitation will be held at the Lady Lake Chapel of Beyers Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 from 2 to 5 p.m. with a prayer service at 5 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 8:30a.m. at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lady Lake.
