Josephine C. Peterson

SOUTH PORTLAND – Josephine C. Peterson, 91, passed peacefully with family by her side on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022.

Josephine was born in Portland on Oct. 18, 1931, the daughter of the late Charles and Cinderella (DiPrimio) DiLallo who immigrated from Lettomanoppello, Italy.

She attended Cathedral Grammar School and Portland High School. Her working career started when she was 14 years of age at Maine General Hospital. She also worked at the Globe Laundry and J. Weston Walch Publishing Co. After she retired she worked part-time for Westbrook Schools as a cafeteria lady. She loved starting her day with the younger kids serving breakfast and later serving lunch to the older kids. They loved her and always wanted to get served in her line because she scooped bigger helpings onto their plate than she was supposed to.

Josephine could be found in her younger years at Beech Ridge Speedway, the same spot every Saturday night, cheering on car #9. She loved shopping on Congress Street. Her favorite stores were Bernie’s Fashions, Porteous Mitchell and Rines Bros. Later, she became a staple at Talbots. She always dressed to the nines, especially for her Saturday nights at the Portlander where she caught the eye of Harold with whom she would spend the rest of her life.

Her favorite thing to do was to cook for family and friends. You never had to call ahead. If you were in the neighborhood, you could stop by Oriole Street and somehow she was able to feed the whole crowd. A holiday requirement was to take home leftovers. “Let me make you a plate.”

Josephine was an avid Red Sox fan. In spite of memory loss in her later years, somehow she kept track of who was playing well and often wondered why those who weren’t got paid so much.

Josephine lived and breathed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was so proud of each and every one of them. They will dearly miss their “Nunnie.”

Josephine was predeceased by her siblings, Carmine and Constantino DiLallo. She is survived by her loving partner, Harold R. Chadbourne of South Portland; two daughters, Carol Fanning and her husband Daniel Hogan of South Portland, Candace Fitzgerald and husband Thomas of South Portland; five grandchildren, Heather Smith and husband Rob Winson, Melissa Sykes and husband David, Jami Gilbert and husband Eric, Danielle Hansen and husband Paul, Tucker Fitzgerald and wife Emily; 13 great grandchildren, Maximilian, Elizabeth, Wyatt, Ben, Anna Josephine, Jillian, Ally, Charlie, Bella, Lucy, Chance, Gwendolyn, and Adelaide.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, from 10:30-11:30 a.m., at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A funeral service celebrating Josephine’s life will immediately follow at the funeral home at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be held at Calvary Cemetery following the service. To view Josephine’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit http://www.ConroyTullyWalker.com

Memorial contributions may be made in Josephine’s memory to your local food bank; or the Bruce Robert’s Fund, Press Herald Toy Fund, 295 Gannett Dr., South Portland, ME 04106