Josephine Novara was born on December 25, 1921 in Detroit, MI.  Her parents, Antonio Ruvolo and Giralomo (Lentine) Ruvolo, welcomed her into the world on Christmas day.  Antonio and Giralomo would be strict but devoted parents who placed Josephine and her 12 siblings at the center of their lives.

Josephine grew up on the east side of Detroit with her sisters and brothers: Marion, Mary, Anne, Lena, Geraldine, Gasper, Nick, Rolo and Charles.  Sadly, she had three more siblings who died at birth.  The large Italian family grew and filled their home.  Josephine enjoyed her childhood filled with family, school and friends.  She was especially close to her cousin, Lena, who was also a classmate at school.

Josephine belonged to her school’s social club, was a class officer, and participated in spelling bees.  She was well liked at school and had plenty of friends.  After finding her two autograph books filled with poems and well wishes, her family gained a sense of her popularity.  She loved music and one of her favorite songs was “The Music Goes Round and Round”.  She also enjoyed dancing and especially liked to dance to the popular 1930’s dance step—“The Truckin’”. 

When Josephine was in the 8th grade her father asked her to drop out of school to help with the family life.  Josephine was deeply troubled by the request.  She enjoyed learning, achieving goals and socializing with friends.  She honored her father’s request and graduated from the 8th grade at Duffield School on June 11, 1936. 

Helping to care for their large family and their home prepared Josephine for the next stage in her life.  While living in their downstairs flat, a 13-year-old boy named Joseph moved into the flat upstairs.  Josephine was a lovely young girl and Joseph was the neighbor boy upstairs, still in knickers.  The two began a friendship that would grow over the years to blossom into a full-blown romance. 

Twelve years after the two met as children, Joseph and Josephine were married on June 21, 1941 at St. Elizabeth Church on Canfield on Detroit’s east side.  The newlyweds honeymooned at Niagra Falls.  When they returned, they moved with Joe’s family on the west side of Detroit and began their married lives together. 

Eventually, when Joe was discharged from the service, they bought their first home together at 14868 Holmur in Detroit.  There the couple raised five children: Antonio, Dennis, JoAnn, Keith, and Larry. 

Josephine was a dedicated wife, a devoted mother and a talented homemaker.  She affectionately referred to herself as a “Domestic Goddess” and impressed those who knew her with her famous chicken soup, the proper making of a bed and ironing everything including socks and underwear. 

Josephine’s interests did not stop with homemaking.  She enjoyed playing cards with family and friends and watching her soap operas.  She stayed active with bowling and exercise.  She started “The Club”, a once a month dinner and card game that rotated among her siblings’ homes for over 35 years.  As her children got older, she carved out Sunday’s for family dinner with them and eventually their spouses. 

Josephine loved the holidays, especially Christmas.  She was so excited to decorate the house and the tree.  For many years, the family had 2 and sometimes even 3 trees in the house.  She made the holidays special with great food and traditions.  One of her guiding principles was that no one should ever be alone for the holidays and she always enforced that principle.  There was always company over on the holidays. 

Although Josephine did not like to fly, she did enjoy traveling by car.  She toured Michigan with Joseph and eventually began to set off on trips that were farther away.  She joined Joseph on a number of trips to insurance conventions in New York, Omaha, Chicago, San Francisco and even took a train to Banff in Canada.  Eventually the couple would drive and visit Mexico, New Orleans and Canada—all by car.  On a trip to San Francisco, the couple took Tony, Dennis and some of the cousins along.  On the way home they stopped to see the Grand Canyon—in the days before the roads had guardrails and the cars had air conditioning!

Josephine continued to mother her children throughout their lives. It was important to her that her sons learn skills from her so they could help their wives and family—or God forbid, be on their own!  One thing everyone could count on when they left her house was her care packages or Baggies.  She prepared a “parting gift” for her adult children when they left home complete with toilet paper, Kleenex, paper towels, dish soap, etc.  When they had children, she would pack bags for her young grandkids with cheerios, cookies and treats.  Often, she’d slip the kids a dollar or two and the ride home was more pleasant thanks to her.  As her grandchildren grew and went off to college, Josephine packed bags with anything from toilet paper and pasta to table salt, saran wrap and Italian cookies.  When times were tight, she’d even slip gas money to those who needed it. 

Those who knew Josephine well could read what she was feeling in her eyes.  They will remember her saying, “I forgive but I don’t forget”, “beds are for sleeping, not for sitting” and “testa di un choo-choo”.   

Josephine had a very long and full life with her family.  She celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with Joseph in 1991.  She celebrated the births of many grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Her family was her greatest joy from the time she was a child and for the rest of her life.  She will not be forgotten.

Josephine Novara passed away on March 6, 2016 at the age of 94.  She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph. She was the dear mother of Antonio, Dennis, Jo Ann (the late Paul) Liuzzo, Keith (Tanya) and Larry (Tami). She was the proud grandmother of 12; Derek (Shannon), Amy, Curt (Nicole), Dana, Julie, Katie (Michael), Ryan, Brandon, Courtney, Molly, Saley, and Cal and great grandmother of 7; Genna, Sean, Nolan, Luke, Joey, Benjamin, and Nicholas.

Josephine’s life will be celebrated with her visitation Sunday, March 13th, beginning at 3pm and ending at 9pm. She will lie instate Monday, March 14th, at 10am until the time of her Funeral Mass 10:30am at St. Fabian Catholic Church in Farmington Hills, MI.