Josephine (Joy) A. Mongelli of Newark, Delaware formally of Hockessin, DE, Levittown, NY and Point O’ Woods, Fire Island, NY passed away on August 18, 2022 at the age of 89.She was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1932.Josephine was the daughter of John Greco and Josephine Gallo Greco.
After spending her earlier years in Brooklyn and Queens NY, Joy and her husband later moved on to raise their family in Levittown, Long Island, with summers spent at their Fire Island beach house. Joy was fond of frequently visiting her favorite local shops including Dortoni’s Bakery, Fred’s Deli and Carvel Ice Cream. She also loved spending time with her Aunt Rose. Joy was well known for her homemade meals and cooking, and especially enjoyed preparing holiday dinners for her family. Joy was a fan of watching the Food Network, her most liked soap opera General Hospital, seventies and eighties TV comedy shows and Lifetime movies, and 90 Day Fiance.
Joy loved to ride her three wheel bicycle around the town and chat with friends along the way.
Joy loved going to Resorts in Atlantic City to play the slots. Joy went on four cruises with her daughter Christina. She has been to Puerto Rico, the Bahamas three times, the Virgin Islands, Grand Turk, and Princess Cays. As much as she loved to cook, she enjoyed dining out several times a week at various restaurants, but she always said her homemade food was better!
Joy was labeled the “Italian Princess” and “Mafia Princess” by the nurses in the hospital and the rehabs. She told it like it is and if she did not like you, it was for good reason. Joy was the best a human being could be. She was loving, caring, funny, generous, forgiving, family oriented, and not at all materialistic. Fancy things and money did not matter to her, only her family mattered. She was strong and feisty to the very end. She sang “New York, New York” and “My Way” almost every day with her daughter Christina in the various rehabs and in the hospital. We called her “Joy” and no other name could be more appropriate. She spread joy to all around her and even made the doctors and nurses laugh all the time, no matter how sick she was feeling. She was the best mother and grandmother a child could ask for. Joy was a Gift and an enormous Blessing from God. May she be singing with the angels in Paradise. We love you more, Mommy.
During summers on Fire Island, Joy and her husband Joe enjoyed watching sunsets by the dockside, and attending various summer events including the Lobster Party. Joy loved to ride her bicycle around the town and chat with friends along the way.
Josephine was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years, Joseph A. Mongelli. Joy and Joe met at a party where Joe was just returning from service in the Korean War. They enjoyed going on dates to Coney Island and to local dances, memories they cherished and spoke of often in their later years. Joy and Joe shared a lifetime of love and devotion.
Josephine is survived by her children Donna Giordano of Oyster Bay, NY and Michael (Jennifer) Mongelli, Carol Mongelli and Christina Mongelli of Delaware, her brother Anthony Cestare of Sarasota, FL, and her grandchildren Gregory, Joseph and Eric Giordano, and Kaitlyn Mongelli.
Josephine had a larger-than-life personality and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
All services will be private. Following a Mass of Christian Burial, burial for Josephine will be at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear, DE where she will join the love of her life, Joe.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the: Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 /www.woundedwarriorproject.org or to the Red Cross, Delmarva Chapter, 100 West 10th Street, Suite 401, Wilmington, DE 19801/ www.redcross.org/local/dc-va-md-de/about-us/locations/delmarva.html
Arrangements by McCrery & Harra Funeral Homes
