Josephine Francesca (Zoccoli) a native of Wabigoon, ON. and a resident of Whitby died after a brief illness at Lakeridge Oshawa General Hospital on Sunday, February 13, 2011. Josephine was a retired prospector, nurse and Ojibwa translator. She loved to dance, travel, tell stories, trap, guide, knit and on occasion enjoy a good drink of brandy. She was predeceased by her sons Fredrick Charles III (Freddy), Roderick Allen (Roddy), Garry Steven and her husband(s) Fredrick Charles Cone II and William J. Aalto. She is survived by her daughters Edeline (Henry) Wetelainen of Wabigoon, ON and Sharon (Michel) Nolet of Whitby, ON as well as numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. As per Josephine’s wishes, cremation has already taken place .A celebration of her life will be held at the Wabigoon Metis Centre on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. The family will receive friends at the Metis Centre on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Interment will be in the Dinorwic Cemetery with her husband Fred and her three sons. If friends desire in lieu of flowers the family request donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Society or a charity of choice.
 

A Poem for Josephine

On a February Sunday she traveled to a world far away, where she was met by her spirit guide
on the brightest of days.

Her journey has just now only started
and from the living she will be temporarily parted,
parted to learn and to make her way to a new golden dawn of endless days.

Silently she passes through time and through space
with the grace of his light shining warm on her face. 

She travels through meadows by forests and streams
to places she loved when she was in her teens.

So free is her spirit that it dances and flies
through the miles and miles of endless skies.
She’ll rest for a while, but she will not sleep,
for her journey is long and she has promises to keep.

She will visit all her family and make her way
through the western gate at the end of the day.
Now her journey from this life has started
and she enters the spirit realm with her dearly departed.

There she will wait for her loved ones, each one 
and she’ll help them with their journey when it’s their time to come.   

By Leah Gardner
 

Our Prayer for Josephine
December 2010

The things we sometimes call miracles are merely hopes activated by faith. An Elder once said, "Give thanks for that which you need and soon you will have that for which you have given thanks." To-day our President's grandmother, Josephine is in our prayers. At 97, she is still our greatest supporter, a wonderful mentor and a true pioneer. As winter days get shorter, spirits can fade without nurturing, nourishment and love. In honour of Josephine and all our Grandmothers we offer this prayer.

“Great Spirit, I come to you this day and in your presence thank you for the knowledge and wisdom of the Elders. From them we learn grace and the value of doing one's best. They teach us to pray and trust in the great Mystery. Their voices blend with nature's singing the song of creation. Their teachings and living legends of long ago, give us hope and guide our hands. There is comfort in their blessings that will sustain us through the ages – a precious legacy that shall be ours forever.

May we honour the Great Spirit and our Grandmothers by paying respects to the Earth and all Creation. Help us to know in our hearts what it is to express love and to be humble. We pray for the gift of humility, wisdom and understanding. Help us be kind to others and to forgive ourselves. Give us the ability to share our feelings, personal concerns and commitments. Let us listen to each other be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love and with good heart walk hand in hand to face the future.

Great Spirit, watch over Elders' so they may remind us our words and actions must be one in unity.”

click here to view Josephine's story

Miigwetch!