Josephine Rose Giudice

Josephine Rose Giudice, 95, longtime resident of Gainesville, Florida, passed away at her home on Friday, January 13, 2023. She was a selfless soul who upon the death of her mother when she was 17 put aside her dreams to be a nurse to help to raise her four younger siblings. That passion of caring for others continued as she raised six children and made sure they had opportunities to enjoy sports, dance and join scouts. She enjoyed following the lives of her many grandchildren and great grandchildren on Facebook on her own iPad late in her life. She dedicated 50+ years as a volunteer at the Alachua General Hospital Auxiliary leading their fundraising efforts that supported the hospital’s staff, many of whom became her friends. She also helped to create the hospital’s first teen volunteer program. She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church who was ardent about giving her children a Catholic education and worked toward that with her husband and the faith community to build the elementary school that is now St. Patrick’s School. Her faith gave her strength, and she gave thousands of hours to support Haven Hospice by sharing her fundraising skills to create a space to help those who needed it most. A life-long Gator fan, she was a 50+ years season ticket holder for Gator football and basketball who rarely missed a game and wore custom-made Gator apparel to the games. She was a voracious reader of novels and loved to share her books forward with friends and family by mailing them a full box. She found joy traveling and was the consummate bargain hunter who found many treasures shopping at the outlets. She was an incredible cook who loved to host her large family for holidays, making it special by featuring her signature Italian dishes. Josephine is survived by her six children: Susan Giudice Jerabek, Gainesville, FL, Roberta Giudice-Teller [spouse Keith Teller] Gainesville, FL, Bill Giudice [spouse Debbie] Tallahassee, FL, Jim Giudice [spouse-Sue] Lutz, FL, Mary Jo Giudice [spouse Keith Einstein] Dallas, TX, Tom Giudice [spouse Joanna] Columbia, SC, eleven grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, one brother and many nieces and nephews in New Jersey. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert A. Giudice, D.P.M, a son, George Philip Giudice, two sisters and their husbands and one brother. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, January 23, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church 500 N.E. 16th Ave. Gainesville, FL. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 22, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Williams-Thomas Funeral Home 404 N. Main St. Gainesville, FL. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Josephine’s memory to St. Patrick Catholic Church at www.spccgnv.org or St. Jude’s Children Hospital at www.stjude.org.