IN MEMORIAM: Josephine A. Bertino, 89;

Moved To Cooperstown To Be Near Family

COOPERSTOWN – Josephine A. Bertino, 89, who moved to Upstate New York in 2010 to be near her family, passed away peacefully Friday evening, Oct, 25, 2019, at Chase Memorial Nursing Home & Rehab in New Berlin.

She was born July 23, 1930, in Brooklyn, the only child of Peter Fatta, a Sicilian immigrant, and Rose (Rosalia) née Lucido Fatta. During her teen years she played piano at Carnegie Hall and developed a deep interest and love of music. She graduated from Grover Cleveland High School, where Julius LaRosa was one of her classmates.

Josephine raised her two daughters in Hauppauge, Long Island, where she assisted at the family day camp in the summers.

For the past several years she has been a resident of Woodside Hall in Cooperstown, a place she truly enjoyed. She would often volunteer her time at the Susquehanna SPCA Thrift Shop, helping customers locate items and putting together outfits for special occasions. At Woodside Hall, together with Mary Margaret Kuhn, Josephine planned a successful fashion show for the SSPCA in June. She was also a big fan of the Glimmerglass Festival and tried to attend each summer.

Josephine is survived by her two daughters, Serena Hanrahan and husband, Stephen, and Rosanne J. Westgate, Ph.D., all of West Winfield; and a grandson, Christopher Joseph Westgate of Westport, Mass., a communications professor at Johnson & Wales University.

Friends are invited to pay their respects 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut St., Cooperstown, when the family will be in attendance.

Following the visitation, a memorial service will be offered at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Mark Piedmonte, pastor of the Garrattsville United Presbyterian Church, officiating.

On Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, Josephine will be laid to rest with her parents and grandparents in St. John Cemetery, Middle Village, Queens.

As an alternative to flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Josephine to the United Presbyterian Church, 947 County Highway 16, Burlington Flats, NY 13315.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.