Josephine, affectionately called "Jo" by all who knew her, was born on April 26, 1921. Her parents,
Calogero and Carmela (Ilvento) Librizzi, emigrated to the US from Italy. She graduated from Central High
School, Newark, attended Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School, and took night classes at NYU. She started
a business with her good friend "Cis" that provided quick temporary secretarial services to local
businesses in Newark that became so successful so quickly that the girls were overwhelmed and closed
it. For most of her career, she was an Executive Secretary for various companies including Cook and
Dunn (working directly for Mr. Dunn) and Brown Construction Company. She was truly a forerunner for
the feminist movement, proving that a woman could have a good business sense and be fun,
fashionable and social all at the same time!
Jo traveled extensively throughout Europe, Cuba, and the Caribbean. In her retirement, she took up
bridge and joined many of the social clubs in Panther Valley. She ran a Broadway Theater group for
several years, shepherding 50+ people to NYC for lunch and a show three times a year. Jo authored a
column about local sites and happenings in the local newspaper and she researched and wrote The
History of Panther Valley, published in 1997. She was also involved in awarding scholarship money
through one of the local charities.
Jo leaves her cousin Mary Ann Librizzi of Hackettstown, her sister-in-law Sheila Librizzi of Allamuchy, and
seven nieces and nephews: Eileen Klauser and her husband Eugene, Ann Librizzi, Charles Librizzi and his
wife Diane, Paul Librizzi and his wife Carol, Clare Moncourtois, Mary Knackstedt and her husband Rick,
William Librizzi, and 14 great nieces and nephews. She was the glue that kept extended family members
in touch with each other. She will be greatly missed.
A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2019 from 10am to 11am with a memorial service beginning at 11am at Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ.
Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.cochranfuneral.com/