Josephine Rita (Pane) Puglia, formerly of Eastchester and Mohegan Lake, New York, died on Nov. 4, 2026, in the embrace of her family and the hands of God. She was born on May 22, 1932, to Pasquale and Luisa (Nappi) Pane in the Bronx, New York. Her family moved to Pelhamdale Avenue in Pelham Manor, New York; she graduated from Pelham Memorial High School and began her studies in Education at Hunter College in 1950. She had wonderful memories of spending time with family in Sorrento, Italy, and attending school in Perugia in 1953 and 1954. Josephine graduated from Hunter in 1955 and taught at Thornton Donovan School in New Rochelle, New York, from 1956 to 1961. She married Leonard S. Puglia in 1957, and they began a life together in New Rochelle. In February 1961, Josephine and Leonard opened their hearts and lives to their daughter, Marie-Louise, and eventually moved to Pelham Manor and then Eastchester, where they resided for 42 years before moving to Mohegan Lake. A natural teacher with a generous and full heart, Josephine taught first grade at Robert Fulton School (now Edward Williams School) in Mount Vernon, New York, from 1968 to 1995, sharing her creativity and talents with generations of young children and making lifelong friendships. Josephine and Leonard celebrated their 50 th wedding anniversary in 1997 surrounded by those closest to them. She moved to Garrison, New York, in 2025.
Josephine was a kind, compassionate woman who enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking, making cream puffs and quilts, participating in activities, and meeting with friends, proudly holding on to her independence well into her 90s. She is survived by her daughter, Marie-Louise Best; her son-through-marriage, Jon Best, Jr; her beloved grandchildren, Theresa (Richard) O’Connell and Luke (Kimberly) Best; her adored great-grandchildren, Richie and Alex O’Connell and Gemma and Josephine Best; generations of nieces and nephews and their families; and loyal friends. She was predeceased by her sister, Marie Astarita, and her husband, Salvatore; and her in-laws, Concetta and Francis Simone and Marianne and John Gandolfo. Josephine will be remembered for her delight in children, her forgiving nature, her perceptiveness, and her joy in being Mommy, Jo, Aunt JoJo, Grandma, and GiGi. We miss her already.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at 11 a.m. at St Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Shrub Oak, New York, followed by interment at Rose Hill Cemetery in Putnam Valley, New York. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution with Josephine in mind to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Information provided by Yorktown Funeral Home
