Josephine Saltus

Josephine “Pinuccia” Saltus (born Giuseppina Gionfriddo), 86, peacefully passed away in her home in East Haddam, Connecticut the night of Wednesday, September 29th, 2021 surrounded by her loving family.

Josephine was born in Melilli, Sicily to the late Sebastian and Nancy (Amato) Gionfriddo. Since her childhood, she demonstrated a fascination for the grand piano, cultivating flowers, and caring for her many brothers and sisters. As a young adult, Josephine pursued language studies at the University of Catania. She used her knowledge to educate others for a short time as a teacher before permanently emigrating with her family to the United States in 1958.

Upon arriving in America, Josephine took up a job selling tickets at a small cinema theater, where she first met William Saltus. The two married in 1963 and started their family in Middletown, CT. Josephine operated the Rose’s Villa restaurant in Killingworth, CT for several years, providing the community with warm greetings and home-cooked meals before moving to East Haddam. She later gained employment with Gilman Gear, where she dedicated herself until she retired. When she was not running after her many grandchildren, Josephine was found pruning her vibrant rose bushes, cooking pots of pasta for her children, crocheting a new project, or recanting a detailed account of her childhood in Italy.

Josephine is survived by her husband of 58 years William Saltus, her sisters Mary Kerby, Nella Tartaglia, and Dorothy Bish, her brother Sal Gionfriddo, her four daughters, Ires Carilli, Nancy Hanson, Elaine Cady, and Adrienne Davis, her eleven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her sister Carmela Herdman and her brother Joseph Gionfriddo. A Visitation will be held at the AuroraMcCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Road, in Colchester, on Monday, October 4th from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Tuesday, October 5th, at Saint Andrew Church, 128 Norwich Avenue, in Colchester at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow in the New Saint Andrew Cemetery, Gillettes Lane, Colchester. To sign the online guestbook or express a condolence, please visit, www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com